My name is Fleur Connick and I am a rural reporter with the Guardian Australia, working out of the Deniliquin Pastoral Times office.
I was chosen by the Guardian Australia’s Rural Network as one of five journalism graduates to embed in country papers across Australia.
The project, which is in its second year, hopes to connect rural communities, collaborate with independent news organisations, share local stories and build a bridge between metropolitan and country communities.
Essentially, the idea is to have journalists on the ground, living in rural communities from which they're reporting from, rather than based in the city.
I have spent most of my life in regional and rural parts of NSW and care deeply about issues impacting country communities.
My parents grew up in Coonamble in northern NSW, and most of my family is from farming backgrounds.
My dad is a stock and station agent and my mum is a scientist.
I am the oldest of four children and spent the first nine years of my childhood on a farm near Coonamble, until my family moved to Millthorpe.
After high school, I used my savings to buy a one-way ticket to Italy and travelled as much as I could, eager to see the world.
When I returned home, I moved to Sydney and studied international studies and communications at UTS, majoring in creative writing and journalism.
Before I started at the Guardian, I was working for Australian Community Media (ACM) at the Newcastle Herald.
Since I can remember, I’ve always loved to write stories and talk to people.
In my career, I have found myself drawn back to the country and am passionate about regional journalism.
I believe journalism plays an important role in connecting people and their communities through sharing stories.
It’s been one week since I officially moved to Deniliquin.
I am looking forward to getting to know you all, and will be writing for the Deni PT one day a week.
If you see me, please do not hesitate to say hello. If you have a story and want to get in touch, my email is fleur.connick@theguardian.com.