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:
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Brave Girl, Elizabeth O’Brien, Sunraysia Daily
Footy in a tangle, Cimara Pearce and Roslyn Lanigan, The Weekly Times
The Penshurst crash, Mary Alexander and the editorial team, Warrnambool Standard
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Is processing dead? Louise Preece, Stock & Land
Wind wind-back a worry for green energy advocates, Anthony Stewart, ABC News
ATV photo stoush, Fiona Myers, The Weekly Times
Five decades of regional television, Alex Sinnot, Warrnambool Standard
London Calling, Matilda Abey, The Weekly Times
Let’s talk about it, Kathy Bedford, Rob Harris and the Statewide Drive team, ABC Victoria
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The farmer’s foe: Fantastic Mr Fox, Danielle Grindlay, Hamilton Spectator
It’s still our land after 150 years, Chris McLennan, The Weekly Times
Marius champions wool, Danielle Grindlay, Hamilton Spectator
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Reg the Veg, Lucy Barbour and Larissa Romensky, ABC Rural
100 greatest country Australians, Natalee Ward and Cristina Panozzo, The Weekly Times
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Player vs Spectator, Ray Sizer, Shepparton News
Convicted, Jim Aldersey, Bendigo Advertiser
Horse stuck in the mud, Peter Ristevski, Geelong Advertiser
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Naidoc Week celebrations, Vicky Hughson, Warrnambool Standard
Moving the sheep, Steve Hynes, Warrnambool Standard
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Boxing Day murder, Julian Fisher, Channel Nine News Melbourne
Murphy Street arrests, Julian Fisher, The Bendigo Advertiser
Chris Gillett, Geelong Advertiser
Lisa Cameron, Hamilton Spectator
Ted O’Connor, Wimmera Mail Times
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Ben Robson, The Border Mail
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Danielle Grindlay, The Hamilton Spectator
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The Hamilton Spectator
