North West Star senior journalist Samantha Campbell is celebrating five years in Mount Isa and the North West, and is reflecting on her time in outback Queensland.
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Where have the last five years gone?
Five years ago I was an undergraduate journalist, working in Moree, NSW, and took a leap of faith to move 2000 kilometres away from my family to Mount Isa.
It was the furthest I had ever moved away from home and from memory I spent the first two nights crying, asking myself "what have you done?"
It took a while to settle into my new job, into a new town and make some friends; but I made a 12 month commitment to stay in Mount Isa before moving on elsewhere.
Thinking about that now, I laugh.
Locals told me their own stories about how they had a one to two year plan and were still in town 30 years later.
Well it hasn't been 30 years but I have definitely set down roots here, marrying a local and starting a family.
Five years have gone so quickly, trying to pick out some of my favourite career moments seems like a blur.
From interviewing some greats including Johnathon Thurston, Matty Bowen, Scotty Prince, Kasey Chambers, James Blundell and Casey Barnes.
To some devastating moments like watching the Blues lose State of Origin, while thick in Maroons territory.
Something I will never forget is attending my first Quamby Rodeo, competing in my first campdraft at Dajarra and witnessing one of the most devastating floods in a lifetime.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Mount Isa and look forward to what the future has to bring in this small outback city.
Thank you to everyone who I have interviewed and met over the years and to the North West Star family; you've made this job extremely enjoyable.
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Samantha Campbell
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Samantha Campbell (nee Walton) has worked for regional and rural publications across New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory. She is currently writing for the North Queensland Register based in North West Queensland. Email: samantha.campbell@austcommunitymedia.com.au
