About Us
The Local Paper started print and online publication on February 17, 2016, but its traditions go back more than 150 years.
Local people trust The Local Paper for their local news. The Local Paper is published in localised editions in 40 different areas, covering Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and peri-urban area.
Local Paper publisher Ash Long as a newsboy in 1970.
The Local Paper is an independent and free news service. Its publisher, Local Media Pty Ltd, also runs the Melbourne Observer newspaper, which was established on Sunday, September 14, 1969.
Editor Ash Long has entered his 55th year of newspaper work. His links with the Local Paper circulation areas go back to the early 1970s.
Ash first started reporting for the community as a ‘stringer’ for the Whittlesea Post newspaper in 1973. His early reporting rounds included the Whittlesea, Kinglake and Diamond Valley areas.
Ash is now in his 55th year of local paper reporting. He started as a newspapere delivery boy in 1969. Ash took on a family tradition. His mother-in-law, Isobell Tunzi, was a Whittlesea Post news contributor from the 1950s.
In the early 1980s, Ash Long was Manager of eight Leader newspapers at Brunswick, Coburg, Northcote, Preston-Reservoir, Whittlesea, Heidelberg, Diamond Valley and Doncaster-Templestowe.
In 1984, Ash and Fleur Long purchased The Yea Chronicle business from Tom Dignam. The couple began many community involvements.
Ash Long (left) receives Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow recognition from District Governor Ron Pearce.
Ash was a Charter Member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Yea, being named a Paul Harris Fellow. He remains an active Freemason, presented with the honour of Grand Master’s Order of Service and Past Junior Grand Warden, and is currently the honorary Grand Superintendent of Communication.
The Local Paper enjoys a reputation for honesty, reliability and courage. The Local Paper enjoys a standing for honest reporting, without fear or favour.
Editor Ash Long won the statewide Westpac Award for best local reporting for his fearless coverage of Yea Council events in 1986-87.
Newspapers published by the Long family have been vitally involved in the local community.
For almost 50 years, Fleur Long has been a nurse.
Soon after the tragic Black Saturday fires in 2009, Ash Long started a special purpose local weekly newspaper, The Phoenix.
More than $1.3 million in advertising space was donated to local businesses to assist them in their recovery from the disaster.
The Phoenix was designed to assist local families and businesses with the rebuilding and recovery of the bushfire region including Murrindindi, and surrounding municipalities including Mansfield, Mitchell, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges.
The Phoenix was in publication for 18 months. It was a progenitor for The Local Paper which commenced on February 17, 2016 due to public demand.
The Local Paper continues in the same community spirit. Free ‘What’s On’ advertising is available for all local clubs and organisations.
The Local Paper’s Trades and Services Directory has affordable $20-a-week advertising for trades people to promote local business.
We welcome your local contributions.
• COMMENT on this website
• EMAIL to editor@LocalPaper.com.au
• PHONE: 1800 231 311 or 5797 2656
• MOBILE: 0450 399 932.