About Us
Wellington & District Leader is proudly published by locals who have been part of the Wellington community for more than 36 years.
When the Wellington Times closed during Covid, it left a big gap. The Times had been part of Wellington’s history for over 150 years, but in its final years it was produced out of Dubbo with no local reporter or representative. We felt strongly that Wellington deserved its own voice again.
That’s how the Leader was born — established by husband-and-wife team Mark Griggs and Sharon Wilson, with the first edition published on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Mark has spent most of his life in newspapers. He began as an office boy with Country Life Newspaper Ltd (NSW) in 1965, later becoming photographic manager when The Land newspaper took over in 1975. From there, his career took him across the Riverina as a representative for The Land, then to Brisbane as the first publicity officer employed by a beef cattle breed — the Australian Hereford Society.
In 1989 Mark returned to Wellington to run the family hotel business, purchasing the Federal Hotel with his brother Simon until 1999. After that he edited Western Magazine, later managed the Wellington Times, and eventually returned to The Land in 2005 as Central and Western editorial representative. He stayed there until his retirement in July 2021 — just weeks before launching the Leader.
Sharon brings her experience and dedication to the business side, looking after advertising sales and administration, while Mark focuses on editing. Together, they publish each edition and keep the paper running strong.
On September 11, 2025, the Leader will publish its 200th edition — a milestone for Mark and Sharon, for Wellington, and for independent publishers who are proud members of Country Press NSW.
Today, around 300 copies of the Leader are sold each week at $2.50. The paper circulates across Wellington, Stuart Town, Yeoval, Geurie, and Dubbo, and is also available online by subscription. Readers can connect with us not only in print, but also through our website, Facebook, and Instagram.
Our goal is simple: to keep local news alive, celebrate the stories of our community, and continue the tradition of truly local publishing in Wellington.
About Us
Wellington & District Leader is published by locals who are active members of the Wellington community for more than 36 years.
Wellington hasn’t had its own local paper since ACM killed the Wellington Times during the Covid period.
The Times was a part of Wellington history for some 150 years or more.
In its final years the paper was produced in Dubbo with no local reporter or representative.
The ‘Leader’ was established by husband-and-wife team Mark Griggs and Sharon Wilson with the first edition published on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Mark Griggs began his newspaper career as an office boy of Country Life Newspaper Ltd (NSW) after leaving school in November 1965 and was photographic manager when Country Life was taken over by The Land newspaper in 1975 when Rural Press Limited was established.
He went on to become Riverina representative (editorial and stud stock advertising) and left The Land in April, 1979 to become the first publicity officer employed by a beef cattle breed – the Australian Hereford Society, Brisbane, Qld.
In 1989 Mark went into the family’s hotel business and purchased the Federal Hotel with his brother, Simon until they sold in 1999.
He then edited Western Magazine, later manager Wellington Times, then returned to The Land as Central and Western editorial representative in 2005 where he stayed until retiring in July 2021.
Sharon (0407 935 998) looks after advertising sales and administration while Mark (0456 940 999) edits. Both are the publishers.
On September 11, 2025 the ‘Leader’ will publish its 200th edition, a milestone for Mark & Sharon and independent publishers – members of Country Press NSW.
The paper sales of 300 each week at $2.50 a copy, circulates in Wellington, Stuart Town, Yeoval, Geurie and Dubbo, and is also sold on-line by subscription.
It has a website, facebook page and Instagram.