Warragul revealed as location for 2025 Journalism and Photography Awards

Growth city Warragul will host this year’s prestigious Rural Press Club of Victoria awards, recognising the best in rural and regional journalism and photography.

The annual awards will be held on Friday, October 31 at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, one of the region’s leading venues for functions and entertainment.

Rural Press Club of Victoria president Alex Sinnott said the club was excited to showcase another regional location after successful events in Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong in the past three years.

“The awards recognise the exemplary work of media professionals across broadcast, print and online,” Mr Sinnott said.

“Quality work that upholds the principles of journalism – honesty, accuracy, fairness, independence and respect for the rights of others – is more important than ever,”

“This event allows guests to celebrate the best in the industry, and gain an exclusive insight into how the stories and photos were created.”

The awards will be emceed by journalist and broadcaster Jonathon Kendall.

This year’s awards are proudly being supported by Baw Baw Shire Council and each prize winner will receive a hamper supplied by The Gippsland Grazer showcasing products from across West Gippsland.

Last year, more than 140 people attended the annual awards ceremony in Bendigo, where The Warrnambool Standard was announced as the Media Outlet of the Year – sponsored by Powercor.

Sunraysia Daily reporter Allan Murphy was named Journalist of the Year – sponsored by 89 Degrees East, Lachlan Bence from Ballarat Courier was named Photographer of the Year – sponsored by Agriculture Victoria, while Natasha Schapova from ABC News was crowned Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year.

Membership to the Rural Press Club of Victoria is available to working journalists across regional Victoria at an annual cost of $39.

Subject to other eligibility requirements, members can enter up to three category awards as well as any of the overall awards: Journalist of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Young Journalist of the Year and the Award for Community Journalism.

Further details about the awards and judging criteria for each of them will be available on the Rural Press Club of Victoria website when entries open later in July.