I just can’t get away from it, even when I was far away from my desk on an Australian vacation.

Once a journalist, always a journalist — whether it’s with the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter or perusing the Wentworth Courier and the Manly Daily in Sydney or the Herald Sun in Melbourne.

Delivered right to my sister’s doorstep near Bondi Beach in Sydney, the Courier is a glossy, magazine-style weekly that featured the beloved Sydney Roosters’ rugby team on its cover two weeks straight — previewing the National Rugby League Grand Final and unhappily covering the locals’ loss to the St. George Illawara Dragons, 32-8, in the match.

It was much like us placing the Bothell and Inglemoor football teams on our front page following the Spaghetti Bowl and Cougar coach Tom Bainter’s 100th victory (see page 10). Community pride runs rampant wherever you go.

As for the Manly Daily, it’s published every day except Sunday and Monday, but I’m guessing the staff is occasionally hard-pressed for local news to fill the rest of those days on this quiet seaside Sydney suburb that we traveled to by ferry.

While peeking through the Daily’s window on a lazy Saturday afternoon (the doors were locked and no one was in sight), I cringed at a large, extra-bold, two-deck headline that covered five columns and accompanied a small, one-column story, which jumped inside. Not something we’d do here, but each editor has their own style.

If I ever move to Manly, maybe I’ll join the Daily’s staff and make my mark.