Issie Hill, who has been the friendly face behind the front desk at the Benalla Ensign for many years, will retire at the end of 2025.
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
On Thursday, December 18, Issie Hill will switch off her computer and turn the key in the Ensign door for the last time.
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Issie has been the smiling face behind the Ensign’s front counter for many years, greeting locals and assisting with their advertising needs.
However, with a granddaughter to occupy her time, and a devotion to the local pony club, Issie has decided now is the time to step away from work, some 30 years after starting with McPherson Media Group.
It was October 1995 when Issie took up a telesales role at Echuca’s Riverine Herald, before moving to Benalla and the Ensign, 10 years later.
“It sounds like it was a long time ago,” Issie said.
“I really enjoyed the Riv. I was doing telesales, then I got involved in doing features.”
When Issie’s daughter Jamie-Lee met a man from Benalla and decided to move to the Rose City, Issie and husband, John, were not far behind.
“She moved over here with her, still partner, Adrian,” she said.
“And I didn't want to live in Echuca without my kid.
“Luckily enough, there was a job vacancy at the Ensign. One of the reps had gone on maternity leave, and then left.”
She took on that role and made it her own, and since then, has seen many changes in the industry.
Issie said one of the significant changes in the roles she had with MMG when she was in Echuca, and initially at the Ensign, was that each office had one computer.
“We had to share it,” she said.
“And we had two reps on in Benalla, Simon Holmes and myself.”
On top of that, the Ensign office still had a dark room, and photos for the paper had not gone digital just yet.
Issie said if someone had told her, in 1995 in Echuca, or in 2005 in Benalla, that she would still be with MMG in 2025 she’d have laughed at them.
“I hoped I would be, it was my dream job,” she said.
“But I wouldn’t have believed them.
Issie Hill working at the Ensign in 2010.
Photo by
Benalla Ensign
“I just was happy to be fortunate enough to land the role and get to know all the really awesome clients in Benalla.”
Issie said it was not just the Ensign that had changed in the past 20 years, Benalla itself had as well.
“Bridge St (East) used to be a hub of activity, with so many retail stores,” she said.
“But we’ve lost things like Target and there are lots of empty shops.
“I think it’s struggled to get back to where it was before COVID.”
As she fought back tears, Issie said she was going to miss her colleagues, clients and all the local people who would pop in for a chat or just to say hi.
“I’ve been fortunate to have some really amazing clients in Benalla,” she said.
“And we’ve got a community who loves to pick up the local paper, and read local stories.
“It’s been an amazing job, and an amazing place to work.”
Issie said she would miss the routine, but had lots to keep her busy in retirement.
“I’m a bit concerned about how much free time I’ll have,” she said.
“But I’ll have school holidays with my granddaughter, and I’ll get a chance to do more photography.
“Benalla Pony Club will definitely keep me busy. I do all their socials and that’s a lot of fun.
“But I might also do some volunteering, just to fill in the days.”
Issie said she would like to thank everyone for their support over the years, both in Echuca and here in Benalla
“Thank you to Natasha (Randall) and Simon (Ruppert), and to all my clients, a lot of which have become my friends.
“And it’s been very rewarding to be able to help people in their times of need with things like death notices and other classies.
“Thank you to all the people that would come in for a chat.
“And good luck to whoever takes on my role, I’m sure you’ll find it very rewarding.”
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