Lightning Flash Newspaper

The Lightning Flash newspaper, known as The Flash, was a newspaper servicing Lightning Ridge and surrounding areas from 1969 to 1998.

The newspaper formed in 1969, and was printed by Marcia Bodewes in her kitchen. Management of the Lightning Flash transitioned several times, with ownership by Robina Boardman from 1972. The Flash transitioned to offset printing in 1977, Glennis and Ron Canlin ran the paper from 1985 and Pam and Rod Elkington from 1996, with a final three issues produced by Francine and Alan Mateer in 1998.

The logo featuring a cloud and lightning bolt was designed by famous Lightning Ridge artisan Julius Dietzius.

The Flash was a source of local news, with local organisations regularly contributing columns along with editorials, letters to the editor and news from government departments such as the New South Wales Mines Department.

The newspaper was advertising funded, with approximately half of the content of each edition promoting local and district businesses and events, and an extensive classifies section known as the “Yellow Page Classifieds” allowing locals to buy and sell.

The Lightning Flash was originally printed on foolscap folio paper (8.5 x 13.5 inches), changing to A4 in the early 1990s, then later in the ‘90s to newsprint. In its heyday, the foolscap and A4 printings would include a number of coloured pages and occasionally coloured inks, and even full-colour stencilled artwork for special editions. Some advertisers would always choose a specific coloured page.

Among the more popular recurring segments is “Little Snippets”, a column of short commentary and sometimes local gossip, always sure to cause a light-hearted stir.

The back page of The Lightning Flash newspaper, more often than not, would include an advertisement for Sherman’s Opals, featuring hand-drawn artwork of the Sherman brothers and their 1959 Holden FC Special.

Article: Research by Russell Gawthorpe and Leisa Carney, edited by Russell Gawthorpe. LRHS research compiled by Len Cram and Barbara Moritz. Sources: Lightning Flash Newspaper, 11 May 1972, 22 September, 1979, 27 September 1979; Lightning Ridge - The Home of the Black Opal: Unique to the World, Gan Bruce, 1983, p. 182.