The experienced journalist and public relations consultant came across the communications advisor role when visiting family and friends at her hometown earlier this year.
She started in her new role this week.
‘‘I was born in Deni but left to continue my education and work. But I have always kept in contact with close friends and have family here,’’ she said.
‘‘There is nothing like summer in Deniliquin and I have spent many Christmases here over the years.
‘‘I have lived and worked in Melbourne, Hay, Wagga and Port Vila (Vanuatu). Most recently I have worked throughout the South Pacific in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Micronesia as a magazine editor and PR consultant.
‘‘I saw the role advertised in the Pastoral Times one weekend I was here visiting friends and couldn’t believe it.
‘‘It ticked all my professional boxes and being in Deni was an added bonus for me personally.’’
Ms Carroll started her 20 year career in journalism and public relations at GTV9 in Melbourne before joining Rural Press Ltd in NSW. She was also media advisor to former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett.
She has advised many businesses, corporates and governments in media relations and has been publishing in-flight and travel magazines for the past nine years.
Ms Carroll said she was a student at St Michael’s Primary School in Deniliquin when she first latched on to the idea of working in the media.
‘‘I always wanted to be a journo,’’ she said.
‘‘I love news gathering and politics, I love writing and have had two books published.
‘‘I started in TV but always had a passion for print, and still do.
‘‘I don’t believe for a second it’s dead and I think for rural and remote communities in particular it has a strong future.’’
Ms Carroll hopes to build on what council ‘‘has already achieved in communications’’.
‘‘The Visit Deni campaign is fantastic,’’ she said.
‘‘A council priority is to be consultative and informative. The team here has worked very hard to do that and I hope to help them with this to ensure they achieve their goals outlined in the strategic plan.
‘‘Working as a media advisor has always been very rewarding for me. I love being able to help get the right message out, to ensure stakeholders are engaged and consulted.
‘‘My time working for Jeff Kennett and other politicians has been some of the most rewarding and challenging of my career.
‘‘I’m excited about the challenges and rewards ahead with Edward River Council.’’
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