COUNTRY PRESS SA CENTENARY AND ANNUAL NEWSPAPER AWARDS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:48): Last Friday (24 February) I was pleased to attend the Country Press SA Centenary and Annual Newspaper Awards at the Entertainment Centre. I acknowledge that the Leader of the Government in this place attended the event, which was also enjoyed by the Leader of the Opposition in the other place, Ms Isobel Redmond, and the member for Hammond, Mr Adrian Pederick.

I acknowledge that the night was commenced by Mr Trevor Channon, the manager of the Murray Valley Standard, but also obviously in his capacity as the current Chairman of Country Press SA. I also note the presence of Mr Michael Ellis from the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, who is the Chairman of Country Press Australia, and on Thursday he led an executive meeting of Country Press Australia here in Adelaide.

Also part of the celebrations of the Centenary saw the launch on Friday lunchtime of a book called Through our eyes. I note, sir, that you have been reading a copy of that in your quiet time—not that you get much of that. This book encapsulates 100 years of Country Press SA Incorporated and the history of South Australian country newspapers in general. It has been written by Kym Tilbrook, a former longstanding journalist with The Advertiser who comes from a very proud country press family.

I was pleased to, once again, be a sponsor at the Country Press SA awards: it is the 11^th year I have been fortunate enough to have that privilege. Once again, I sponsored the best Community Profile award. I am pleased to indicate that the winner this year was Mr Brad Perry, Editor of the Riverland Weekly, for an excellent article about a family who had escaped from Sudan. It was an excellent story and was brought back to the local Riverland community level. It is also relevant given the motion I will move later this afternoon. Second place in my award was Nick Dillon from The Murray Pioneer, and third place went to Briohny Robinson of the South Eastern Times.

In the Best Newspaper over 6,000 circulation category, this year the winner was The Border Watch, for the second year in a row, ahead of The Bunyip and The Courier at Mount Barker. In the 2,500 to 6,000 circulation category, the Murray Valley Standard won the award for the eighth year in a row, ahead of the Whyalla News and the Northern Argus. In the category for newspapers under 2,500 circulation, the winner was the Loxton News for the second year in succession, ahead of the Plains Producer and the Eyre Peninsula Tribune.

Other awards were the Best Advertisement (Image/Branding), which went to The Courier; Best Advertisement (Priced Product), which went to The Bunyip at Gawler; Best Advertising Feature, which went the Yorke Peninsula Country Times; and the award for Best Supplement went to The Murray Pioneer. The Best News Photo was taken by Sean McGowan of The Islander newspaper; the Best Sports Photo went to The Leader at Angaston; and the Best Front Page to The Pennant at Penola.

The award for Editorial Writing was given to The Islander; the Excellence in Journalism award was given to The Border Watch; and the Best Sports Story was awarded to the Murray Valley Standard. There were many other worthy placegetters and award winners on the night. Once again, I congratulate Country Press SA on a very professional celebration of what is a wonderful milestone, that is, 100 years of country newspapers in South Australia.

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