2010 South East Regional Media Awards
The South East Regional Media Awards were held last Saturday night, April 17, in the Visual Arts Centre at La Trobe University, Bendigo.
The evening was a celebration of the courageous and exceptional journalism in regional and rural Victoria and New South Wales.
A special presentation on the night by Kath Stewart, a Kinglake resident for some 30 years, cemented the important role small news teams play in times of tragedy.
Kath told her own Black Saturday story, sharing how the heartbreaking events of that terrible day changed her world.
Kath, a retired teacher, was one of many to loose her home in the Kinglake community. Her dreams of writing, travelling and sipping slowly on summer cocktails suddenly came to an end.
What Kinglake needed the most in a time of sadness and chaos was a voice. Residents weren’t getting enough information from media outlets and many felt left in the dark.
Kath, along with so many others, turned to volunteering during the aftermath and she was one of many locals who played a significant role in building ABC Radio Kinglake Ranges, 94.5FM.
Journalists Simon Rogers and Louise Fitzroy trained Kath and a band of other volunteers in basic radio production and a new radio station was born out of the Black Saturday tragedy.
After borrowing a 15-metre cherry-picker to raise the ABC radio transmitter above the mountains to reach the people, the ABC Kinglake Ranges team went on to win a Walkley Award in the Community and Regional Journalism category.
A special presentation from the team was also shown on the night, an insightful glimpse into the world of community radio at its best.
The winners in the following categories were presented awards:
Excellence in Regional and Rural Print Journalism
Commendation: Anthony Radford, The Bendigo Weekly, “Cashed Up”
Winner: Brad Worrall, The Border Mail, ”Out of the Ashes”
The Cliff Pinder Award for excellence in Regional and Rural Photography
Winner: John Russell, The Border Mail, “Walla Walla Fire Series”
Most Outstanding Contribution to Regional and Rural Journalism 2010
Winner: Anthony Radford, The Bendigo Weekly
Congratulations to all the entrants’, finalists and winners…
