Normally this section of the paper is filled with thoughts and opinions on the headlines of the day but we think it's only fitting, in his last edition of the Cowra Guardian, to acknowledge the man who is the backbone of this paper - the editor, Andrew Fisher.

This edition marks Andrew's last after more than four decades of dedication not only to Cowra but to communities across the Central West.

Readers may not know this but Andrew is a regional manager and for a large portion of the past 40 years has been helping to publish papers in Canowindra, Boorowa, Grenfell, Young, Parkes, Forbes, Harden and Cootamundra week in and week out.

When you pick up the paper each week, or read stories online, it's the product of hours of hard work - whether it's attending council meetings, heading along to events, or on the sidelines of the cricket or footy, Cowra Guardian journalists go above and beyond to bring you your local news.

And Andrew has been part of that effort for more than 40 years.

We would like to thank Andrew for his mentorship and friendship during our time at the Cowra Guardian.

We still consider it the best job we've ever had.

And it's not just us - a lot of young reporters who have had incredible careers started at the Cowra Guardian and thanks to Andrew, they got their foot in the door.

Best of luck Andrew, and thank you for everything you have done for our local paper.

Former Cowra Guardian journalists Kelsey Sutor and Matthew Chown now based in Canberra