The Hamilton Spectator has taken out the Rural Press Club of Victoria Media Outlet of the Year and Journalist of the Year at the annual Victorian rural and regional journalism and photography awards dinner.
More than 100 guests attended the awards, which recognise excellence in the state’s rural and regional print and electronic media.
In awarding the prize for the prestigious Media Outlet of the Year the judges said the Hamilton Spectator, which has only seven journalists, ‘delivers news ….that is on par with neighbouring papers belonging to larger news networks with greater resources’.
Rural Press Club of Victoria President Ed Gannon said one comment that was telling was that even though the paper is now being available online, readers still seek out the hard copy.
“One store requested customers not block their driveway while waiting for The Spectator to be delivered of an afternoon!” Mr Gannon said.
The Hamilton Spectator’s Danielle Grindlay was named the Rural Press Club of Victoria Journalist of the year for her ability to write across a diversity of subjects – from a hard-edged business story, to a council report, to a feature on a local hero or heroine.
The 2012 Photographer of the Year was awarded to Ben Robson from the Border Mail for his collection of photos showing a day in the life of rural youngsters on the rodeo circuit.
The judges were impressed by Ben’s dedication to the story following through the whole day and capturing the different aspects of the rodeo including excellent detailed shots as well as moody, expressive photography.
The Ray Frawley Memorial Award for the Young Journalist of the Year was presented to Ted O’Connor from the Wimmera Mail Times for what the judges described as a fine body of work covering issues from the flood aftermath in Joel Joel, to tackling the contentious subject of gay marriage and ‘coming out’ in the countryside.
Other winners include:
Best Regional News Story
Sponsored by Telstra
Commended
Brave Girl, Elizabeth O’Brien, Sunraysia Daily
Highly commended
Footy in a tangle, Cimara Pearce and Roslyn Lanigan, The Weekly Times
Winner
The Penshurst crash, Mary Alexander and the editorial team, Warrnambool Standard
Best Rural News Story
Sponsored by Victorian Farmers Federation
Commended
Is processing dead? Louise Preece, Stock & Land
Highly commended
Wind wind-back a worry for green energy advocates, Anthony Stewart, ABC News
Winner
ATV photo stoush, Fiona Myers, The Weekly Times
Best Feature – all media Sponsored by Redstick Strategic Communications
Commended
Five decades of regional television, Alex Sinnot, Warrnambool Standard
Highly Commended
London Calling, Matilda Abey, The Weekly Times
Winner
Let’s talk about it, Kathy Bedford, Rob Harris and the Statewide Drive team, ABC Victoria
Best Agriculture Story
Sponsored by Dairy Australia
Commended
The farmer’s foe: Fantastic Mr Fox, Danielle Grindlay, Hamilton Spectator
Highly commended
It’s still our land after 150 years, Chris McLennan, The Weekly Times
Winner
Marius champions wool, Danielle Grindlay, Hamilton Spectator
Best Production
Sponsored by Cargill
Highly Commended
Reg the Veg, Lucy Barbour and Larissa Romensky, ABC Rural
Winner
100 greatest country Australians, Natalee Ward and Cristina Panozzo, The Weekly Times
Best News Photograph
Sponsored by CBH Group
Commended
Player vs Spectator, Ray Sizer, Shepparton News
Highly commended
Convicted, Jim Aldersey, Bendigo Advertiser
Winner
Horse stuck in the mud, Peter Ristevski, Geelong Advertiser
Best General Interest Photograph
Sponsored by TAC
Highly commended
Naidoc Week celebrations, Vicky Hughson, Warrnambool Standard
Winner
Moving the sheep, Steve Hynes, Warrnambool Standard
Best Video Vision
Sponsored by Murray Goulburn
Highly Commended
Boxing Day murder, Julian Fisher, Channel Nine News Melbourne
Winner
Murphy Street arrests, Julian Fisher, The Bendigo Advertiser
The Ray Frawley Award – Young Journalist of the Year
Commended
Chris Gillett, Geelong Advertiser
Highly Commended
Lisa Cameron, Hamilton Spectator
Winner
Ted O’Connor, Wimmera Mail Times
2012 RPCV Photographer of the Year
Sponsored by RACV Royal Auto
Winner
Ben Robson, The Border Mail
2012 RPCV Journalist of the Year
Sponsored by RACV
Winner
Danielle Grindlay, The Hamilton Spectator
2012 RPCV Media Outlet of the Year
Sponsored by NAB
Winner
The Hamilton Spectator
Thank you to our award sponsors:
- Telstra
- TAC
- Dairy Australia
- CBH
- RACV
- RoyalAuto
- NAB Agribusiness
- Redstick
- VFF
- Murray Goulburn
- Cargill
