MATTERS OF INTEREST

COUNTRY PRESS SA AWARDS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:24): I rise today to speak about the Country Press South Australia Awards, which were held on 26 February this year at the Renmark Club. The host of the awards was Mr Ben Taylor, the President of Country Press SA and General Manager of the Murray Pioneer group. He is the most recent of several generations of his family to lead that organisation.

I was very pleased once again to present the Community Profile award, which I have sponsored for a number of years, and I am pleased to say that the judge of the award this year was Ms Tory Shepherd, the health reporter for The Advertiser. The winner was Ms Deidre Graham from the Border Times newspaper, which is based in Pinnaroo. Deidre comes from the circulation area of that paper, which of course crosses into Victoria. She is passionate about the area, and I was delighted that she was given the award.

The Border Times entry reported on the story of Philip O'Driscoll, who was involved in a horrifying helicopter crash in Canada five years ago and who was returning to Pinnaroo to help open the 2009 Pinnaroo Show. Tory Shepherd said that Deidre Graham's article was 'a gripping piece presented in a well-written and evocative style. This piece starts strongly and that strength pervades the whole piece.' She said, 'The subject is obviously an immense asset.' I reiterate my congratulations to Deirdre Graham on her journalistic efforts in that part of the state.

It is also interesting to note that the second prize was awarded to the editor of the Murray Pioneer, Mr Paul Mitchell, who also oversees the Border Times. Paul finished runner-up in that section with his story on Barmera's fanatical Collingwood supporter, Con Doupis. 'This profile is written with style and flair,' said judge, Tory Shepherd. 'It's jokey and blokey and jovial, really interesting even for non-football lovers.'

The third place in that award was The Islander newspaper, which had a very successful night overall. The winner in the category of best newspaper over a circulation of 6,000 was The Courier at Mount Barker for the second year in a row. Second place went to the Murray Pioneer of Renmark, and third place went to The Times of Victor Harbor.

The winner in the category of best newspaper with a circulation between 2,500 and 6,000 went to The MurrayValley Standard at Murray Bridge for the sixth time in succession, which is an extraordinary result. In second place was the Northern Argus at Clare, followed by The Recorder in Port Pirie. The award for best newspaper under a circulation of 2,500 went for the second time in a row to the Plains Producer at Balaklava, followed by The Loxton News and The Islander.

Best Advertisement (Image/Branding) was won by The Recorder, and the Best Advertisement (Priced Product) went to the Whyalla News. The Loxton News won the Best Advertisement Feature, and The Islander took out the award for Best Supplement.

The Courier at Mount Barker won the Best News Photograph, and the award for the best sports photograph was a tie between Graham Fischer from the Barossa & Light Herald, who actually won the previous year, and Sean McGowan from The Islander. In third place was Donna Sims from the Katherine Times. The best front page went to the Port Lincoln Times, and The Plains Producer won the Editorial Writing award, and Excellence in Journalism was taken out by the Barossa & Light Herald's Michelle O'Reilly.

The Best Sports Story was won by The Plains Producer, with an article written by Lauren Parker and Kym Jarman, and I have talked about the Community Profile Award that I was pleased to present. I congratulate all the newspapers that participated in the awards; it is a very good and well-run organisation. I once again thank Tory Shepherd for judging my award.

I am also pleased to indicate that joining me at the awards that night in Renmark was the Liberal candidate for Chaffey and, I am pleased to say, now the member for Chaffey, Mr Tim Whetstone. He took the opportunity to meet many people from his electorate and across the state, as he continues to do in his new role.

Time expired.