Liz Wylie is a Multimedia Journalist for the Whanganui Chronicle.
Journalism was a late-life career change for Liz after years of social service roles in disability support, community mental health, tenancy advocacy and adult literacy tuition. In 2011 her life was changed dramatically by a number of factors and after experiencing a magnitude 6.3 earthquake while walking down a city street in Christchurch on February 22, she decided it was time to throw off the bowlines and set sail for somewhere new while she still had time. Liz found her way to the Whitireia Journalism Programme in Wellington where she completed the certificate course before undertaking the national diploma. At the conclusion of the course, she was willing to go anywhere although she was most attracted by the prospect of working at a provincial paper. Liz started work at the Whanganui Chronicle in 2014 and envisaged that she might stay for a year or two. After 9 years she's still there because she soon discovered that this is, without a doubt, a glorious place to live and work. The climate is most agreeable and there is an endless supply of compelling stories to be found in the city and surrounding districts. The region is home to some of the most fascinating, innovative and engaging people she has ever met. Whether a child at primary school is describing her lunch menu, a centenarian is recalling her eventful childhood or a former royal footman is remembering his employment at Buckingham Palace, there is always a captivating quote or two. You can contact Liz at liz.wylie@nzme.co.nz.