The hearing was always going to be followed with great interest by those of us here in the Riverina and MIA who are familiar with many of the names and businesses unlucky enough to be getting a mention.

But as people were sitting down for lunch on Monday, things took a dramatic and unexpected turn.

The State's collective jaw dropped as witness Premier Gladys Berejiklian calmly told the hearing she'd been in a "close personal" relationship with Maguire for five years.

These words from the notoriously private and composed Premier sent shock waves through NSW and caused a storm of chatter among journalists about how this tryst had been kept out of the gossipy corridors of Macquarie Street.

Our ACM colleagues in Wagga have been reporting the ICAC hearings hour by hour, and we've been pleased to be able to bring live updates and all the details as they unfold directly to our subscribers.

While there is a lot in the national media about the matter, our reporting is conveyed very much through the local, Riverina lens. In case you missed any of it, here's a recap;

Which is a good example of why a campaign going on at the moment to preserve the future of local, regional media is so important.

The Save Our Voices Campaign is being led by none other than veteran journalist Ray Martin, and has seen TV networks, newspapers and radio stations come together to ask for government reform to help local media survive.

Around Australia, many are lending their voices in support of the work we do, and as a reader of this newsletter, we know that you value local journalism too.

We warmly thank you for your ongoing support, which right now, we need more than ever.

Declan Rurenga, editor

drurenga@areanews.com.au