Oddie’s style of content did not feel quite right to produce during the height of the flooding crisis across the region.
This columnist took a step back to allow the real journalists to do the work they needed to do, keeping you informed when you needed it most.
But now, in the face of a long and slow clean-up, some levity can be just the tonic for some to find a reason to smile — or at least do that short burst of breathing out you do when someone sends you a funny meme.
Senior ‘caught’ reporter
Sometimes as a journalist, you’ve just got to muck in and get your feet wet.
News court reporter Monique Preston found that out the hard way last week when she waded in to lend a hand while out interviewing flood-affected residents, joining forces with 12-year-old Cooper Robertson to rescue one of four goldfish which had escaped his grandmother’s pond in Nicholls Ave, Shepparton.
This fish was caught on Longstaff St and Kirsten St, a couple of streets down. It was spotted by Longstaff St resident Shane McDonald who was out helping catch them as well.
Oddie knew Mon was good at court reporting, but didn’t realise she was also a ‘caught’ reporter ...
(Pause for laughter)
A happy hump day
The Riv’s Bransen Gibson shared this story on Thursday, and Oddie could not resist highlighting it.
‘Hump day’ now has a whole new meaning for emergency crews after they carried out an unusual rescue mission on Wednesday.
Fire and Rescue NSW helped save a camel, named Gina, that had waded into the flooded Murray River at a camel farm near Moama.
Video from the rescue efforts showed emergency service members wading through chest-deep water as they tried to corral Gina as she walked through the river.
Eventually, with the use of some tasty hay, Gina was lured out of the water and back to dry land.
Gina was later reunited with her camel mates when she was returned to the farm safe and unharmed, albeit slightly wet.
Click here to watch video from the rescue