The Pennant

The Pennant is a regional newspaper associated with Penola in South Australia. It was established by W. Erwin Thiele in 1946 to provide a local communications outlet for Penola and nearby districts, which he believed were underserved by newspapers based in Mount Gambier and Naracoorte. The first issue appeared on Thursday, 25 July 1946, with a lead report on proposed improvements to Penola's Memorial Hospital. From its beginning, the publication combined community reporting with local advertising and coverage of civic, agricultural, business, sporting and social activity in the wider Penola district. Kenneth Victor Dohnt, a New Zealander, assumed control of the newspaper in 1950 and remained associated with it until his death in 1971. Control then passed to Lyle Shurdington, a local resident and long-serving employee. In October 1978, the newspaper was taken over by South East Telecasters, whose major shareholder was Allan Scott of the Scott Group of Companies. The Pennant subsequently operated within the same broader regional newspaper ownership environment as The Border Watch. For a period, The Border Watch supervised production, while The Pennant was issued weekly and maintained local advertising and editorial functions connected with its South Australian readership. The publication promoted itself as circulating extensively throughout the Penola District Council area, including Kalangadoo, Coonawarra, Nangwarry, Comaum, Glenroy, Monbulla and Maaoupe, as well as the wider South-East region. At the time of its 2020 closure, its reported circulation was approximately 1,000 copies. The newspaper was discontinued on 21 August 2020, together with sister publication The South Eastern Times, after 74 years of publishing. The interruption was attributed to financial difficulties and lasted approximately 18 months. The Pennant was relaunched in March 2022 with funding support, restoring a local newspaper service after the hiatus. The title also has a preservation and research role. Microfilm copies have been produced by the State Library of South Australia, and the National Library of Australia makes digitised images and text versions available through Trove for issues published from July 1946 through December 1955. Its history illustrates the continuing importance of small regional newspapers as locally focused institutions, while also reflecting the financial pressures affecting print media and community publishing in Australia. Detailed information about the post-2022 operating structure, current ownership, publication frequency and present circulation is not established by the supplied reference material.

The Pennant was founded in Penola, South Australia, by W. Erwin Thiele in 1946. Thiele believed that Penola and its surrounding communities needed a publication of their own because information from the larger regional centres of Mount Gambier and Naracoorte was not reaching the town adequately. The first issue was published on Thursday, 25 July 1946. Its leading story concerned plans to upgrade Penola's Memorial Hospital, establishing from the outset the paper's emphasis on local civic affairs and community development. In 1950, control of the publication passed to Kenneth Victor Dohnt, a New Zealander who retained control until his death in 1971. Lyle Shurdington, a local resident and long-serving employee, then controlled the newspaper. This period connected the title closely with the people and institutions of the district it served. In October 1978, South East Telecasters acquired the paper. Allan Scott, associated with the Scott Group of Companies, was the company's major shareholder. The acquisition placed The Pennant within a larger regional media ownership structure. The Pennant was published as a weekly newspaper and was associated operationally with The Border Watch. During the period described in the reference material, publication took place on Wednesdays, while the paper's local advertising and editorial work was linked to an office at 81 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier. Its stated circulation area included the Penola District Council area and communities such as Kalangadoo, Coonawarra, Nangwarry, Comaum, Glenroy, Monbulla and Maaoupe, together with the broader South-East of South Australia. At the time it stopped publishing in 2020, circulation was reported at about 1,000 copies. After 74 years of publication, The Pennant was discontinued on 21 August 2020 alongside sister title The South Eastern Times. The interruption resulted from financial difficulties and continued for about 18 months. In March 2022, the newspaper was relaunched with funding support. The available material does not specify the full post-relaunch ownership, management structure, print schedule or circulation, so those details remain unresolved. The historical record of The Pennant is also preserved through digitisation. The State Library of South Australia has created microfilm copies, while the National Library of Australia's Trove service provides digitised images and searchable text for issues dating from July 1946 to December 1955. These holdings make the title a source for studying local institutions, businesses, public works, social life and regional development in South-East South Australia. The newspaper's long publication history, temporary closure and later relaunch reflect both the enduring role of community newspapers and the economic pressures affecting regional print media.

1. 2022The newspaper is relaunched

   The Pennant resumes publication in March after an approximately 18-month hiatus, supported by funding.

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2. 2020Publication is suspended

   The Pennant is discontinued on 21 August after 74 years, together with The South Eastern Times, amid financial difficulties.

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3. 1978Acquisition by South East Telecasters

   South East Telecasters takes over the newspaper in October, with Allan Scott of the Scott Group of Companies as its major shareholder.

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4. 1971Lyle Shurdington takes control

   Following Dohnt's death, control passes to Lyle Shurdington, a local resident and long-time employee.

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5. 1950Kenneth Victor Dohnt assumes control

   Kenneth Victor Dohnt takes control of the newspaper and remains associated with it until his death in 1971.

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6. 1946The Pennant is founded and begins publication

   W. Erwin Thiele establishes the newspaper in Penola, and the first issue is published on 25 July 1946.

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A community-focused regional newspaper serving Penola, the surrounding district and the broader South-East of South Australia.

• The Pennant weekly newspaperRegional newspaper1946

  The core offering is a weekly local newspaper focused on Penola and nearby communities in South-East South Australia. Its role has included local news, civic affairs, community information, advertising and reporting relevant to the district's towns and rural areas. The publication was issued weekly during its established operating period and was associated with The Border Watch for production supervision.

• Digitised historical issuesDigital archive

  Historical issues of The Pennant are preserved in microfilm by the State Library of South Australia. The National Library of Australia's Trove service provides digitised images and text versions for issues published from July 1946 to December 1955, supporting historical and genealogical research.

• 2022Relaunch after the publication hiatusStrategy

  The Pennant had been absent from publication for approximately 18 months following its 2020 discontinuation.

  What changed. The newspaper was relaunched in March with funding support.

  Aftermath. The relaunch restored the title as a local newspaper serving Penola and surrounding communities, although current operating details are not specified in the available material.

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• 2020Temporary discontinuation of publicationStrategy

  The newspaper and sister title The South Eastern Times faced financial difficulties after decades of publication.

  What changed. Publication of The Pennant was stopped on 21 August 2020, creating an approximately 18-month hiatus.

  Aftermath. The title was relaunched in March 2022 with funding support.

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• 2022The Pennant relaunches after an 18-month hiatus

  The newspaper was relaunched in March 2022 with funding support, restoring publication after its 2020 closure.

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• 2020The Pennant ceases publication after 74 years

  The Pennant, together with sister publication The South Eastern Times, was discontinued on 21 August 2020 after financial difficulties. The cessation created an approximately 18-month interruption in publication.

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1. The Pennant
2. The Pennant (Penola, SA : 1946–1955)