As I write this, it is late November, and I am thinking where has the year gone? Christmas and New Year are just around the corner, bringing a close to the year that was 2024.
2024 has been a very satisfying year for the team at Channel Mag. Yes, it’s been a toughie, but we can be hugely proud that we have turned out 11 very good 100 pages-plus issues during the year, each and every one celebrating the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy north of the Harbour Bridge. At a time when magazines and media are challenged, we continue to go against the tide.
We have a very tight team putting this magazine together every month - just four of us. It works, as for each of us, it is just one of the many things we do as part of the wider Benefitz team. I say a big thanks to Kim and Liz, who assist me with the content and help to sell advertising to make things work financially. We also have Crystal, our magnificent designer, whose ongoing efficiency makes things very easy for all. Thanks, team, for your efforts in 2024.
In this issue, we once again have something for just about everyone, and it’s all totally free. There’s a focus on what’s happening on the Shore this summer. Christine Young has done a good piece on events in the coming months, and we also have a Q&A with some of our club managers and event organisers.
I enjoyed catching up with Ian Darby for our cover feature about his adventures driving the innovative Emirates Team New Zealand chase boat in Barcelona. Ian’s was a tough job that somebody had to do! LOL.
I want to acknowledge the work of Tim Bray, QSM. The Tim Bray Theatre Company has been putting on fantastic shows, bringing joy to people of all ages for 33 years. In this issue, Tim Bray Theatre Company is announcing that the company will close. The difficult decision comes due to the ill health of Tim Bray, Founder and Artistic Director. Tim has recently started a course of chemotherapy to help control incurable cancer. We wish Tim all the best and thank him for all he has given over more than three decades.
We have plenty of gift ideas and suggestions for things to do on the North Shore for you in this issue. Our goal is always to get our local people to spend locally for the benefit of the community. So, when buying gifts this festive season, we encourage you to do so on the North Shore. If you are celebrating or eating out, then make sure you do it locally to support our hospo businesses, who’ve had a tough few years. We reckon they deserve some extra love during summer 2024/2025.
We ran out of magazines early with the November issue, so we have increased our print run with an extra 500 copies with this issue. We now print 22,000 magazines monthly, and they all go through the month. We are only left with sample copies. It’s a popular mag!
Enjoy this festive issue. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Our next issue will be out in early February. See you in 2025!
Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher, Channel Magazine
Founder & MD, Benefitz
Email: aidan@benefitz.co.nz
