Did you know, it was a newspaper editor who penned that epigram: Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr of Le Figaro, France in the mid 1800s. He was speaking to the political and social climate of his era, but it was such a clear-eyed and true insight, it’s stood the test of time.

So too has the Crookwell Gazette stood the test of time since its first edition in 1885. The times keep changing, and keep testing us, so our decision to vacate the Goulburn Street office is a considered business case.

However, let’s be clear: we’re still here.

From Wednesday October 24, we are adopting a mobile working model for our local sales representative and news reporter alike. This simply means Donna Winterbottom and Clare McCabe (pictured) will be working in and about the town and on the road to produce your Gazette.

In short, our business data shows that advertisers and readers have moved with the times, and are increasingly using mobile and online technologies to reach us, do business, write letters and engage. Those who drop into our shopfront are few and far between.

Floyd Davies at the newsagency knows better than most how the dynamic media industry has changed and challenged those who work in it or in response to it. We’re grateful for both his feedback and his positivity about this decision, including hosting a “dropbox” for correspondence to the Gazette in his business. If we can redirect our foot traffic anywhere, we are pleased to send it to him.

More broadly, the community response so far has been untroubled by the change in our accommodation. The main question – indeed, the only question – has been: Where will you store your archives?

A great question, and one we investigated carefully. The Crookwell and District Historical Society will acquire our bound volumes and put them in container storage in the short term. We’ll keep a small set of volumes that are annually relevant for research purposes.

You’ll still see Clare (mobile 0438 014 690) out and about for news and events; and Donna (mobile 0438 885 468) will be in regular touch with local businesses for cash-based advertising transactions.

Credit card transactions and classifieds can be made by telephone to 4827 3500, and following the menu prompts.

We’re changing, but we’re staying the same. We’re your Gazette, Crookwell.