After two and a half years at The Area News, sports journalist Ben Jaffrey is moving on.
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He’s taken a job in Tamworth with The Northern Daily Leader and in this week’s At The Bar, Michael ‘Speedy’ Stratton gets some final thoughts from Jaffrey before his departure.
Speedy: This it it, mate. After a couple years, you’re moving to Tamworth.
Ben: I’m moving to Tamworth, working at The Northern Daily Leader.
Speedy: Are you looking forward to it? Will it be hard to leave?
Ben: I’m going to use a couple cliches here like all the great coaches. It’s definitely bitter-sweet. I’m looking forward to it but obviously leaving family and friends is always tough.
Speedy: You’ll be leaving behind the Waratahs, too. How’d you guys go in ressies on the weekend.
Ben: We went all right, we got another win.
Speedy: How will they go without you?
Ben: There’s plenty of blokes to fill my spot and most likely play a lot better than me, too.
Speedy: Now, you’re going up there to start on Monday, is that right?
Ben: Correct, four days off.
Speedy: Being a daily paper, there’d be more than one sports writer there, wouldn’t there?
Ben: Yeah, there’s three from what I know so I’m looking forward to that.
Speedy: You’ll be back one day, though, won’t you?
Ben: Most of my family is here, so I’ll be back for visits and I’d never write off the prospect of returning to the paper...one day.
Speedy: Tamworth’s a good place for us to stop by as well.
Ben: For sure, if anyone wants to check out the Country Music Festival, I can put aside a bit of carpet for everyone.
Speedy: I’ll lay down anywhere after a belly full of Carlton.
Ben: You’re a bit of a car sleeper aren’t you?
Speedy: I have been known to do that. Before you go, it’s prediction time. Can the Tahs repeat their success in the reserve grade?
Ben: I think we can but it’ll be hard. We’ve only lost the one game this year but we also haven’t really won convincingly yet. I’ll be backing the boys. I might have to make a quick trip home if any of the sides make it to the big dance, too.
Speedy: Now, looking at the NRL. I think your team, the Sharks, can do it, but are you reasonably confident they can win two in a row?
Ben: They’re a bit like us in ressies, the Sharks aren’t winning convincingly but they’re winning the arm wrestles which goes a long way when it comes to the finals. The Storm will be hard to beat, though.
Speedy: Anyway, mate. It’s been a pleasure and good luck with it all.