The Western News hires veteran reporter

Montana was always in the back of her mind.

Gwyneth Hyndman grew up in Los Olivos, Calif. and studied at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She has traveled the  world, visiting places such as Portugal, Israel and Egypt,  and has traveled across the U.S. by train.

Growing up in a small town, Hyndman wanted to see what the rest of the  world was like.

“I never felt like I fit in in California,” Hyndman said.

Hyndman first saw Montana when she was 20 years old, and was hooked by the magical winters.

“I loved it,” Hyndman said. “It always stuck in my head as a place, eventually down the line, I could be.”

Sixteen years later, Hyndman found herself in Montana again with only three words to say, “It feels right.”

Hyndman is the newest reporter at The Western News in Libby.

“It sounds weird to say exciting, but it actually has been,” Hyndman said of her first two weeks working. “I love small towns. I had to get out of one to realize how much I missed it.”

Hyndman’s first full-time newspaper job was at the Sierra Star newspaper in Oakhurst, Calif.  Since then she has worked at two newspapers in New Zealand, earning awards for best featuring writing. She also was finalist for reporter of the year, for arts and  entertainment, in New Zealand in 2013.

Matt Bunk, editor and publisher of The Western News, said Hyndman is a top-notch reporter.

“I am thrilled that The Western News was able to bring someone of her caliber to our award-winning news staff,” Bunk said. “So far, I’m really impressed with her work and she seems to be a great fit for our communities.”

Hyndman actually studied anthropology during her time at university, but slowly became hooked on the excitement of journalism.

“It ruins you for any other job because your mind is constantly working. There is no boredom,” Hyndman said. “You start off the day knowing nothing about something, and you end it being able to communicate the information to a lot of people.”

Before working for a newspaper, Hyndman worked on a ranch in New Zealand, taking people out on horse rides on a sheep station. She would stay in New Zealand for 10 years.

As a child, Hyndman traveled back and forth between California and New Zealand because her father was a Kiwi (from New Zealand).

Even though she grew up in California, Hyndman didn’t know how to surf until she moved back to California last year.  The thing most “California” about Hyndman is that she recycles.

After moving back to California, Hyndman moved up to Montana and began waitressing in Big Sky. After taking a quasi-off year, she was ready to return to the newspaper business.

“You have a lot of freedom here. You are covering everything,” Hyndman said. “The news doesn’t stop.”