“Are you related to Hilary?”
A familiar question frequently asked to me in telephone conversations or while out and about doing my journo duties in the streets aka sports fields of Benoni.
“No, we’re not related,” is my usual reply.
“There’s no nepotism here [at the City Times],” I jokingly add.
That was until a major change took place within the walls of the Benoni City Times newsroom.
Our editor, now former editor (that is going to take some getting used to), Hilary Green’s 21-year tenure of everybody’s favourite community newspaper came to a conclusion at the end of September with fresh-faced fledgling Kevin van der List stepping up to the proverbial plate to take a swing at whatever the world of community news and digital media has to throw at him.
Thinking about it now, the reason why the above question is posed to me so often is probably because of what Hilary Green means and represents to the community of Benoni.
A treasure chest of Benoni-related information she rapidly evolved into an esteemed and respected stalwart of the city’s 94-year-old weekly.
The countless awards hanging on her office wall bearing her name and that of the City Times’ during her time here are fitting testament to the fanatical work that she has put in over the years to give the people of Benoni a platform to have their voices heard.
She has gone through and experienced immeasurable changes to her beloved newspaper and to the media industry in general, and has emerged with her head held high on every occasion.
The digital evolution hit hard and fast and community newspapers had to quickly react and join the party or face being left in the shadows.
A student of the old school she squared up to the challenges of the new and put her own fears and concerns aside to guide the BCT to a new online pathway.
Hilary has also played a vital role in the development and progress of a legion of accomplished newshounds who have gone on to further their careers at various media houses around the country, and even right around the world.
Not to mention the numerous exposure and fundraising initiatives that she has taken on for local welfare organisations.
I feel privileged to be one of the colts who have sprung from her stable.
Hilary showed faith in me by giving me an opportunity in 2013 to specialise in and follow my passion for sport journalism for which I will forever be grateful.
If I could think of a sporting simile to use to compare her departure from our newsroom with it would be like Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Manchester United – virtually impossible to replace and a massive void that will long be felt in the status quo of the BCT.
Hilary, being the modest individual that she is, would probably “lash me” (her famous phrase if you do something wrong) for writing this piece, but that bugs me not.
You won’t slip under the radar that easily, Hilary!
Like a broken record I will continue to make known the invaluable contributions of this powerhouse of local news.
So, the next time someone asks me “are you related to Hilary?”
I will respond with: “Yes, she was my office mom.”
LG
- As a footnote, I must mention that our company will fortunately still benefit from Hilary’s years of wisdom and expertise as she takes up a position at the central Caxton East and South Rand offices in Boksburg as an editorial facilitator.
- In the same breath, I wish to again congratulate my friend Kevin van der List on his appointment as editor of the City Times. I have witnessed the often ridiculous amount of hours the man has spent in trying to bring truth and accuracy to the Benoni community and I am more than confident that he will leave a lasting impression and legacy as the years (and maybe decades) roll on.
Read about your new editor by CLICKING HERE.
