Julie Mangalavite (nee Nalder) has been appointed to the position.

The appointment was announced this week by Fairfax Media’s WA regional manager Joe Italiano.

Mr Italiano said Ms Mangalavite was now in charge of both editorial and advertising at the Argus and that her local knowledge and journalistic ability would be major assets for the publication.

“We are very fortunate to be able to appoint a well known local person to this position,” Mr Italiano said.

The appointment follows the resignation of office manager Lerina Ballard who left this week to start a family.

After completing her journalism degree at Edith Cowan University several years ago, Ms Mangalavite has since worked at the Albany Advertiser and the Narrogin Observer.

She believes that the local paper is an integral part of any small town and is excited to be a part of the Argus.

“We have many different groups, organisations and people with varying interests in our community and it is important that all are represented and given a voice,” she said.

“At the end of the day it is a community paper so it needs to be fed by the community – we are just really here to facilitate that.”

Ms Mangalavite said she would like to encourage all members of the public to either come in to the Argus or call and let her or Veana Scott know when there is something of interest happening.