Phoenix Papers: About Me, About You

My name is Karen Smith, and I’m the editor of The Yass Phoenix.

Almost two and a half years ago, I retired from the Australian Public Service after a career of 25 years, and my husband and I sold our home in Canberra and moved to Boorowa. Boorowa offered us three things: a tree change, the end of our mortgage, and drivable distance to our three boys and their families back in Canberra. It was also our town of choice because of my husband’s maternal roots here: two of his Irish forebears, John and Ann Sheehan (nee Toomey) came to Boorowa by bullock dray in 1835. They had two children in Boorowa before leaving for Jugiong in approximately 1840.

History is important to me. In fact, last year I wrote a book about how Boorowa and district managed during the Spanish Flu pandemic, entitled “Great Battle in a Snowstorm: Boorowa and District’s Spanish Flu Victims”. My research showed that between May and November 1919, 21 people had lost their lives in Boorowa and district due to the Spanish Flu. I often wonder if, after all the dust settles about COVID-19, someone will write a book about how we managed during this dreadful time.

In addition to my passion for history, I’m also keen on metal detecting and magnet fishing. People always ask me what my best metal detecting find has been to date. Now, while I haven’t discovered Spanish doubloons or Roman coins (both of which are non-existent in Australia, notwithstanding a hole in a coin collector’s pocket), my favourite find is a silver-plated cake fork because it was so unexpected. I’m new to magnet fishing, and what it involves is throwing a powerful magnet attached to a rope into a body of water to discover treasures. I can’t wait to get back into it once our Spring rains calm down, and am keeping my fingers crossed for an old Chinese coin or two. Or three.

I came to work for the Phoenix papers in October 2020. I started off editing The Hilltops Phoenix, but when the opportunity to start a Phoenix paper up in Yass, I jumped at it. I have a lot of friends in the Yass Valley, and have an appreciation for the rapid rate of change the area has seen. I also belong to a few Yass groups to grow my network, get a good understanding of our issues and how best the Phoenix can help.

One of the ways that we can help your business, workplace, or organisation is to lift your profile, and here we have a special offer for you. Talk to me and tell me your story – why do you do what you do? What do you enjoy about your job? What positive difference have you made to the Yass Valley community doing what you do? We will publish your story online in the Yass Phoenix paper, and have a link from your story to your business site - all for $10 per week or $120 for three months. We defy you to find a better advertising deal. So come on, pick up the phone and call me now: Karen Smith 0458 752 701 or email me at editor@yassphoenix.com.au. All it takes is a conversation to connect and together we will get your business back on track.

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