I’m Rex Martinich, the new senior journalist at the Wimmera Mail-Times.

I’ll be with you all for at least the next year as a replacement for Carly Werner, who last week departed on maternity leave.

I have taken over Carly’s news rounds and you’ll mainly see me covering Horsham Rural City Council, Horsham schools and state and federal politics.

I’ll be asking questions of people around Wimmera, so it seems fair that I tell you some things about myself.

For the past four years I have worked as a journalist at the Hamilton Spectator newspaper.

My main stocks in trade back in Hamilton were political, business and council stories, which will largely continue in Horsham.

I spent my high school years in Hamilton before leaving to study in Melbourne for a few years and got my full-time start in journalism at the Spectator.

I have also worked as an intern at the Geelong Advertiser and at SBS News and Current Affairs in Sydney.

Late last year I was elected president of the Rural Press Club of Victoria, an association for people in media, business and politics with an interest in rural and regional issues.

The press club holds monthly events and I hope to hold one in or around Horsham in the future.

Hamilton is only a 90-minute drive south of Horsham but it has been interesting to see the differences between the two cities, located each side of the Grampians National Park.

I suspect the resident kangaroo population and their dedication to hopping in front of cars on the Henty Highway has contributed to the sense of separation.

I’ve already seen that Horsham shares Hamilton’s desire to see passenger rail restored and prudent council budgets kept.

Everyone I have met so far in Horsham has been friendly and willing to talk about whatever story idea I’ve phoned about or dropped in to discuss.

The Mail-Times team have also welcomed me into their fold and I’m sure we’ll continue to bring you great news stories, photos and online coverage during the next 12 months.

Call us on 5362 0000, visit us at 185 Baillie Street, Horsham, or email me at rex.martinich@fairfaxmedia.com.au. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s a story that needs to be told or a community milestone in the works.