Change is afoot at Galah. Read all about it in this letter from Galah's editor-in-chief Annabelle Hickson.
Dear Galahs,
It takes a lot of energy to run the good ship Galah. It's energy that, for the past five years, has come to me freely, like a miraculously self-replenishing well that I can keep dipping my bucket into. But recently, something has shifted – as if there’s a small hole in the bucket.
At first I tried to plug the hole with thoughts like “everything ebbs and flows, just ride it out until the energy returns”. But then it hit me, with the same clarity I had when I started Galah: that it was time for me to think about finishing. I love beginnings, I love building, but managing is not where I excel.
So I've done an audit of the fuel in my tank. And when I look at the fuel that Galah magazine requires, I can see I have what it takes to make two more issues. Two more fabulous issues. Then, my friends, Galah's magazine – at least with me at the helm – will come to an end.
I've been thinking about Shackleton's famous advertisement: "Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and glory in case of success."
The story goes that hundreds applied to the Antarctic explorer’s job ad. There's something about impossible tasks that calls to certain people, the kind of people who see opportunity where others see madness.
Publishing an independent magazine in 2025 is its own kind of impossible task. But perhaps that's exactly why it needs to exist.
These past five years have been extraordinary. We've told stories that matter. We've connected with readers who care deeply about regional Australia. We've proven that there's an appetite for thoughtful, beautiful publishing about life beyond the capitals. We've won awards, built a community, and created something that didn't exist before.
But every good storyteller needs to know when to pass the baton.
So here's what happens next. During the coming months I'll be putting together our final two issues with the same care and attention that has defined Galah from the beginning. Issue 13 will come out in November 2025 and Issue 14 will hit letterboxes in April 2026. They’ll both be celebrations of everything this magazine has stood for and everything regional Australia continues to be.
And while I'll be stepping back from the editor-in-chief’s chair, Galah itself doesn't have to end. This magazine, this community, this mission – it's bigger than any one person. If you know someone who shares our vision, someone with the energy and resources to carry Galah forward, I'd love to hear from them. The infrastructure is here. The audience is here. The need is certainly here.
Maybe that someone is reading this right now.
Until then, we have two more issues to make together. Two more chances to surprise you, move you, and remind you why regional Australian stories matter. I can't wait to share them with you.
Love Annabelle
If you're interested in discussing Galah's future, please get in touch at annabelle@galahpress.com
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No action required, other than to kick back and wait for Issue 13 to land in your letterbox in November 2025 and Issue 14 in April 2026. Please note, there will be no issue this July.
If there are no more issues of Galah after April 2026, we’ll calculate any issues owing to you and offer you either a refund or a store credit.
Subscriptions are officially “auto-renewing” but we won’t trigger the auto-renew button for any issues we don’t publish.
Please note, there is no issue coming out in July this year. We’ll answer more subscriber-related questions at the bottom of the Q&A.
Issue 13 with the theme of Elements will be published November 2025.
Issue 14 with the theme of Friendship will be published April 2026.
If you love what Galah does, the best way to support us is to buy as many copies as you can of the last two issues for you and as gifts for friends. We’d love to go out with a bang.
You can subscribe for the final two issues either for yourself or as a gift subscription. Our gift subscriptions do not auto-renew, but our regular subscriptions do. But fear not, if Issue 14 is indeed the final issue, we won’t trigger the auto-renew button.
We’d love to hear from you. These last two issues will be keepsakes. Email annabelle@galahpress.com so we can hatch a plan together.
Our Galah newsletters will continue to the end of 2025. We’ll keep you updated with any potential changes in the new year.
We’ll see what happens in the coming months, but Annabelle plans to continue the Galah Regional Photography Prize as a biennial prize and exhibition, with the next one held in 2027.
Send your pitches and ideas to helen@galahpress.com Issue 13 is full, but we’d love to hear your ideas for any really special stories for Issue 14, which has the theme of Friendship.
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Your auto-renewal payment of $60 for two issues (Issue 13 and 14) will be processed on 1 September 2025. If you need to update your payment details or shipping address, you can access your profile here. Any questions, email info@galahpress.com.
If there are no more issues of Galah after April 2026, your auto-renewal payment of $30 for one issue (Issue 14) will be processed on 1 February 2025. If you need to update your payment details or shipping address, you can here. If there will be more issues of Galah after April 2026, we'll be in touch prior to any auto-renewal payments to advise of the process. Any questions, email info@galahpress.com.
If the gift subscription expires with Issue 14, there will be nothing to do. Gift subscriptions do not automatically renew so the gift subscription will come to a natural end after Issue 14.
If the gift subscription includes Issue 15, and if there are no more issues of Galah after April 2026, your gift recipient will be offered a store credit. If your gift recipient does not want to use a store credit, we can refund you the amount owing. Any questions, email info@galahpress.com.
If your gift subscription expires with Issue 14 (you received your gift subscription between the dates of 18 October 2024 and 14 March 2025), there will be nothing to do except enjoy Issues 13 and 14. Gift subscriptions do not automatically renew so your subscription will come to its natural end after Issue 14.
If your gift subscription includes Issue 15 (or more) and if there are no more issues of Galah after April 2026, you will be offered a store credit for the amount owing. If you do not want to use a store credit, we can refund the amount owing to your gift giver.
You can update your postal address by visiting our Customer Portal. Every subscriber has their own unique link to our Customer Portal. To access it, click this link, and type in the email address associated with your subscription. Then follow the prompts. Any questions, email info@galahpress.com.
