The Daily Advertiser

January 2018 - December 2019 and September 2020 - December 2021

Baptism by fire. Those are the three words that I would use to describe my first full-time job in the field of journalism. My first two years in my dream role saw me build up the What's On round from scratch, take on the crime round, interview hundreds of people and write countless stories. It was incredible. 

It turns out I loved it so much I would come back. I returned to take on the role of the court reporter and features writer for The Daily Advertiser. 

The Daily Advertiser •

Aussie lawyer states Willy the Wizard's case against JK Rowling

Wagga lawyer Kevin Foley made international headlines in 2009 when he brought a case against one of the world's most famous authors. The latest episode of The Daily Advertiser's new podcast series - titled The Riv: A Podcast About People - delves into the fascinating story of one man's battle against Harry Potter author JK Rowling. In 2009, Mr Foley was approached by the estate of the late author Adrian Jacobs wanting to bring a lawsuit against Ms Rowling and her publishers. The estate alleged t
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The Chiko Roll has a much-debated history, but this town is staking its claim

It's the fried snack that fits perfectly in one hand, but where and how did the Chiko Roll originate and which regional town can lay claim to it? The latest episode of The Daily Advertiser's new podcast series - titled The Riv: A Podcast About People - is available now and answers that very question. In the fourth instalment of the six-part series, the NSW's Riverina's "scholar" on the subject, Luke Grealy, tells The Daily Advertiser's Annie Lewis how he has spent a lot of time researching the h
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The Riv: Learning how to walk again after a motorcycle crash

It was just meant to be a great day out with mates on a motorcycle ride, but a Wagga man's life changed in a split second. According to the Centre for Road Safety, 248 people in the Wagga region have been seriously injured in a road crash between 2015 to 2019. Craig Cassimatis was one of those people after he had to spend more than a year recovering in hospital when a weekend motorcycle trip went horribly wrong.
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MLHD records 17 COVID-19 cases as NSW numbers surpass 3700

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has recorded 17 new COVID-19 cases, while the state numbers surge past 3700 just days before Christmas. All residents who are eligible are encouraged to book in for their booster shot. The MLHD is no longer publishing a daily breakdown of coronavirus cases by local government area. Meanwhile, the state has notched up another record daily number of COVID-19 cases with 3763 people diagnosed and another two people have died from the virus. IN OTHER NEWS: There
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Seafood snapped up by Wagga shoppers ahead of Christmas

For many people, it is not quite Christmas without a seafood feast, and one Wagga business is "slammed" with orders as the city prepares to celebrate. The owner of the Wagga Seafood Market, Roji Cherian, has been running the business alongside his Asian supermarket for five years. But he said the orders coming in for the festive season of 2021 have been like no other. "I think people have had a tough year, and they are really excited to be finally able to celebrate," Mr Cherian said. "We have be
The Daily Advertiser •

Investigation into assault of 11-year-old at Ashmont park continues

Police are continuing their investigations into the assault of an 11-year-old girl at a Wagga park. Last week a group of youths gathered in a park at Ashmont before members of the group allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl. A video of the incident, seen by The Daily Advertiser, has been circulating on social media. Officers attached to Riverina Police District were notified and commenced an investigation. Since then, police have confirmed a 14-year-old girl will be dealt under the Young Offen
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Riverina road toll jumps despite lockdowns during pandemic

The Riverina road toll has jumped despite this year's COVID-19 lockdown, prompting a road safety advocate calling for more education. Even with residents restricted to home for one month in 2021 to stop the spread of COVID-19, 17 people have been killed throughout the Riverina Police District. The most recent tragedy occurred on Saturday morning when a man died after an SUV and multiple motorcycles collided on the Alpine Way north of Khancoban. For the same time period, in 2020, 14 people died i
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Fire alarm rouses occupants before flames engulf Wagga home

The shrill noise of a smoke alarm "without a doubt" saved the life of a Wagga man and his elderly parents when their Tolland home went up in flames. Three firefighters crews rushed to the home on Cobb Street, about 9pm on Saturday and spent four hours putting out the blaze. Station Commander Nathan Pascoe said the flames had already gone through the roof on arrival, which was only five minutes after they received the call from triple zero. IN OTHER NEWS: "The man had a working smoke alarm which
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Police charge boy over alleged assault of young girl at Ashmont

A young boy has been charged over the alleged assault of a young girl in Wagga after a video of an attack was shared to social media. About 11am on Sunday, a group of youths gathered in a park at Ashmont, before the group allegedly assaulted an 11-year-old girl. A video of the incident, seen by The Daily Advertiser, has been circulating on social media. Officers attached to Riverina Police District were notified and commenced an investigation. The four-minute footage shows a young girl being tac
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Mangoplah residents rally after wild winds tear through town

Residents of a Riverina town have banded together in the aftermath of the severe wind gusts and thunderstorms that tore roofs off and felled trees. Volunteers in the southern zone of the State Emergency Services responded to more than 180 jobs over the weekend. Mangoplah was deemed a "particular concern", according to an SES spokesperson, due to the significant damage caused by the wind. Resident Donna McBride said the storm seemed to come out of nowhere, and it felt like a scene from The Wizard
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Man who murdered Wagga teen in 'horrendous' crime to be released on parole

The man responsible for the murder of teenager Sally Ann Jones and the rape of two other teenagers is set to be released on parole, with a condition that he stay away from Wagga. Kenneth Barry Cannon, 61, was convicted and sentenced in 1991 to 21 years in jail for the brutal rape and murder of 18-year-old Miss Jones in 1987. She was stabbed and thrown in the Murrumbidgee River on Easter Sunday. Cannon was later given another sentence for the knife-point rape of a 16-year-old girl in 1990 and the
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Police investigate alleged child approaches at Wagga Beach and Kooringal

Police are urging Wagga residents to notify them of suspicious activity before taking to social media after reports of a child approach took almost 24 hours to reach them. The plea comes after officers were notified on Sunday about two possible incidents after a post had already been circulating online. Riverina Police District Acting Inspector Bernard Nix said the first child approach was alleged to have occurred about 5pm on Saturday at Wagga Beach. "[It was reported] that a male approached a
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Farmer loses crop as lightning sparks multiple fires in Riverina

A Riverina farmer lost hectares of crops after lightning sparked a blaze, and it was just one among multiple fires crews battled throughout the weekend. Rural Fire Service crews from the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area Zone were called to a property at Coleambally on Saturday afternoon. District coordinator Jason Wall said they found an unharvested crop of 26 hectares well alight. "There was not much crews could do because it was on an irrigated property," he said. "In consultation with the propert
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Laneway shipping container restaurant prepares to launch in Wagga

When a Wagga business wanted to adapt, renovating and extending the space was not an option, but soon a creative solution presented itself. Sheila Reynolds is the owner of S&D Living, a coffee and interior design shop in Wagga, but during the pandemic, an idea struck to bring a taste of home to the city. Ms Reynolds has lived in Wagga for nearly two decades but was born in Malaysia and loves the food from her region. "I wanted to introduce authentic Malaysian food in Wagga," she said. "I am exci
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Concern over 'mixed signals' as COVID cases surge, restrictions eased

Hospitalisation numbers will be critical in determining whether stricter COVID rules are needed, says Wagga's MP, while a resident has raised concerns over mixed messaging. In the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, NSW recorded more than 2200 cases, 25 of those in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. The surge in numbers comes days after the mask rules and other COVID-19 restrictions were eased for both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Wagga resident Scott Chambers said the current situation sends "mix
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