MICHAEL McCORMACK: A former daily newspaper editor for 10 years, Michael has worked in the media industry for 23 years. He was a director of the Murrumbidgee Turf Club for nine years and continues as the club’s official historian. He was a committeeman on the Wagga Wagga Amateur Picnic Race Club for six years and vice-president in 2001-02. Michael was chairman of the organising committee for the 1999 Country Racing Australia Conference, the first time this prestigious annual convention was held in New South Wales. Michael won NSW TAB awards for excellence for thoroughbred journalism in 1992, 1997 and 1999. He also won the Joseph Coulter Memorial Award – Australasian harness racing’s No. 1 journalism prize – in 1986.

PHIL SHEATHER: A creative and design expert, Phil has 37 years of experience in the printing/newspaper industry. Phil has a thorough understanding of layout and design which he has put to effective use in not only newspapers, but also books, brochures and newsletters. Was a national finalist in Australian journalism’s highest honour, The Walkley Award, in the category Best Application of Journalism to the Print Medium, in 1995.

STEPHEN SHAW: Award-winning sports writer who has been a journalist for 18 years. Co-author, with colleague Michael McCormack, of four sporting history books. Served as Sports Editor of The Daily Advertiser at Wagga Wagga, only the fourth person to head the newspaper’s sports department since the 1950s. He was then made the paper’s foundation Business Editor, a title he held until joining MSS Media full-time in 2003.

KYLIE SHAW: The head of MSS Media’s digital photographic department, Kylie has an extensive media background. She worked for six years as a photo-journalist on The Rural News circulating in southern New South Wales, finishing up as the editorial co-ordinator. Kylie has regularly contributed photographs to national magazines and newspapers and her keen rural knowledge has helped her understand the meticulous requirements of photographing stud stock. She has worked as a photographer at numerous Riverina racetracks as well as serving as official on-course photographer for Slickpix when required.