It's with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to a close friend and one of the founders of The Newsport...for now at least.

Josh McConnell, a director of Newsport Publishing, has returned to his home town of Melbourne with his family after 10 years in Port Douglas.

During this time Josh worked as a landscaper and in a car rental company, before starting tourismportdouglas.com.au, broadening the business to include website development which eventually led to the creation of The Newsport.

Josh was a prominent member of the Port Douglas Muddies Cricket Club for much of his time in Port, and would happily provide a ball-by-ball account of his time at the crease to anyone who would listen.

He'll now spend his weekends at the MCG watching his beloved Demons capitulate on a weekly basis.

From all the team at The Newsport, and on behalf of his good mates around the region, we wish Josh, Sarah, Ryan, and Jake all the best for their new life in the rat race.