The River News became the local voice of widespread communication at a time when everyone needed to know what

was happening and what to expect as the ood was about to peak in the weeks and months ahead.

The newspaper was established by Colin and Meg Hetzel, who had purchased the Waikerie Printing House from Harry
Alchin and his family in late 1955.

They originally carried on the traditional printing of work ordered by local business with basic equipment comprising old
hand-set type, a hand-fed platen and old ex-News Ltd. Wharfdale press used for larger work, and hand-operated
guillotine.

Recalling his start at Waikerie, Colin Hetzel said he updated some of the equipment soon after arriving, adding an
electric guillotine and a modern Heidelberg platen press.

All went well until there was the 1956 ood and we could see that this was our opportunity to publish a local
newspaper, as the only local paper was The Murray Pioneer (based at Renmark), Mr Hetzel said.

Having got the go-ahead from the Waikerie District Council to produce a newspaper, the rst edition hit the streets on
July 19, 1956.

Mr Hetzel was editor and printer and his wife attended meetings, took shorthand and reported on local events as well
as proof-reading and oce management.

These were busy times, as we were raising a family of four children, he said.I had to get help, so I contacted Jack Pick
who was a friend and linotype operator with News Ltd. in Adelaide.

When Jack contributed his talents we enlarged the paper to a 12 pager and sometimes 16 pages and increased the
size of the sheet.

All went well, but after seven years I had to return to Adelaide for family reasons and Jack carried on. We sold out
(business shares) to The Murray Pioneer in 1962.

Remarkably, The River News has only had four editors in its history Colin Hetzel, Jack Pick, John Pick and current
editor Craig Treloar.

For John Pick serving as managing editor for more than 30 years was a rewarding experience, working with many
people from all walks of life. During that time he has also served as a committee member of the Country Press
Association of S.A. Inc. for 28 years. He served as president and was made a life member in 2003.

He was also a past chairman of directors of S.A. Country Newspapers Ltd. and served as an executive member of
Country Press Australia. Despite his long and ongoing involvement at State industry level, he said his greatest pride was
his local community. One of the standout campaigns in his term was working with the community to retain the Cadell
Training Centre.

There have been many issues over the years, the growth then roller-coaster ride of the citrus industry, the vine pull in
the 1980s, the great years of the Waikerie Co-operative Packing Shed and then its demise, the prospect of a straight-
line racing industry and its ultimate demise, development of the inland aquaculture industry, oods in 1956 and 1973
and the elongated drought of the early 2000s.