Tickets for next month’s Rural Press Club of Victoria 2023 Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards in Geelong are now on sale, following the close of nominations last week.
Hundreds of Victoria and Tasmania’s journalists, photographers and media outlets are now in the running for the awards, which will be assessed by a panel of 15 esteemed judges.
“We’ve had more than 360 entries, which is a massive increase on last year, so the judges have some tough work ahead of them,” RPCV president Bryce Eishold said.
“I’m sure they’ll be impressed by the quality of work being produced by journalists across regional and rural Victoria and Tasmania and the passion they all show for telling important stories in their community.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see the wide variety of entries that have come in, and the diversity of media organisations represented because our club is not just for the big newspaper or broadcast outlet. Newsrooms big and small, and their staff all stand a chance of winning on our awards night.”
This is the first year the RPCV awards have been presented in Geelong.
Traditionally, the awards night was held in Melbourne, but the RPCV committee changed that approach in 2022, moving the night to Ballarat.
“Unashamedly, we represent rural and regional media, so we decided that’s where we should hold our biggest event of the year,” RPCV vice president Greg Dundas said.
“It’s always a great night, and last year’s event was particularly successful, so we’re excited to have this chance to bring more than 100 journos, photographers and media professionals to Geelong and showcase the city.”
The gala awards night will be held at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on Friday, October 27.
The distinctive dome-shaped venue in Johnstone Park in the heart of Geelong’s Little Malop Street arts precinct is close to the Geelong train station, the city centre and has ample on-street parking nearby.
The Quest and Ridges hotel groups have offered discounts on accomodation in Geelong to those attending the function, and post-event celebrations will kick on at nearby Beavs Bar.
Those attending on the night will get a three-course meal with drinks included.
Tickets cost $115 for RPCV members, or $125 for non-members.
Each year, the RPCV presents a wide variety of awards, with categories for print, broadcast and online journalism.
The most coveted awards are: Media Outlet of the Year (won in 2022 by the The Loddon Herald); Journalist of the Year (won in 2022 by Harrison Tippet, then working at the Geelong Advertiser now at the ABC); the Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year (won in 2022 by Shannon Schubert, of ABC Central Victoria) and Photographer of the Year (won in 2022 by Darren Howe, of the Bendigo Advertiser).
Book via Quest Apartments and receive a 5 per cent discount using code RPCV or Rydges with an ambassador 10pc discount using code RPCV.
Winner: Loddon Herald
Highly Commended: The Weekly Times
Commended: Shepparton News
Winner: Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Highly Commended: James Couzens, Ballarat Courier
Commended: Chris Earl, Loddon Herald
Winner: Shannon Schubert, ABC Central Victoria
Highly Commended: Madeleine Spencer, ABC Gippsland
Commended: Tallis Miles, Weekly Times
Winner: Darren Howe, Bendigo Advertiser
Highly Commended: Alison Wynd, Geelong Advertiser
Commended: Glenn Guy, Hamilton Spectator
Winner: Fiona Myers, Weekly Times
Highly Commended: Chad Van Estrop, Geelong Advertiser
Commended: Chad Van Estrop and Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Winner: Kimberley Price, ABC Central Victoria
Highly Commended: Mim Hook, ABC Gippsland
Commended: Lucy Bain, Debra Pearce and Bension Siebert, ABC Mildura-Swan Hill
Winner: Shannon Schubert and Josie Taylor, ABC Central Victoria
Highly Commended: Emma Field, ABC Gippsland
Commended: Jack Morgan, WIN News
Winner: Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Highly Commended: Sarah Lawrence, ABC Central Victoria
Commended: Emma Field, ABC Gippsland
Winner: Max Stainkamph, Shepparton News
Highly Commended: Jeanette Severs, Dairy News Australia
Commended: Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Winner: Daniel Miles, ABC News – AM
Highly Commended: Mim Hook and Rachael Lucas, ABC Gippsland
Commended: Peter Somerville, ABC Gippsland
Winner: Tim Lee, ABC Landline
Highly Commended: Lachlan Bennett, ABC Northern Tasmania
Commended: Daniel Miles, ABC South West Victoria
Winner: Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Highly Commended: Jeremy Story Carter, ABC Online
Commended: Matt Neal, ABC South West Victoria, and Andrew Kelso, ABC Wimmera
Winner: Else Kennedy, Weekly Times
Highly Commended: Fiona Myers, Weekly Times
Commended: Simone Smith, Weekly Times
Winner: Lachlan Bennett, ABC Northern Tasmania
Highly Commended: Tim Lee, ABC Landline
Commended: Sue Neales, AgJournal
Winner: Chad Van Estrop, Geelong Advertiser
Highly Commended: David Johnston, Weekly Times
Commended: Harrison Tippet, Geelong Advertiser
Winner: Monte Bovill, ABC News
Highly Commended: Mark Jesser, The Border Mail
Commended: Alison Wynd, Geelong Advertiser
Winner: Darren Howe, Bendigo Advertiser
Highly Commended: Nicole Cleary, Herald Sun
Commended: Alison Wynd, Geelong Advertiser
Winner: Darren Howe, Bendigo Advertiser
Highly Commended: Nicole Cleary, Portland Observer
Commended: Colin MacGillivray, North Central Review
Ticket sales have now closed.
