Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-05-04 Daily Xml

Contents

COUNTRY PRESS SA AWARDS

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS (15:25): I rise today to speak about the Country Press SA 2010 Newspaper Awards held at the Crowne Plaza Adelaide earlier this year. The awards were hosted by the new president of Country Press SA Mr Trevor Channon from The Murray Valley Standard, who had taken over that day from Mr Ben Taylor of the Riverland-based Taylor Group of newspapers. Also in attendance was Mr Mike Ellis of the Yorke Peninsula Country Times in his capacity as the new president of Country Press Australia.

I would also like to acknowledge the presence at the dinner of the member for Mawson in another place and parliamentary secretary, Mr Leon Bignell, the member for Goyder, Mr Steven Griffiths, and my colleague in this place the Hon. Jing Lee.

It is the 10th year in which I have presented an award through Country Press SA, and I am pleased to continue my support of the community profile award. This year the first prize went to Genevieve Cooper from The Courier at Mount Barker, and that was her second win in three years in that category. Second was Anelia Blackie from The Border Watch and third Val Rafanelli from The Recorder at Port Pirie.

I would like to thank my son, Tom Dawkins, who is editor of the Stock and Land in Melbourne, for judging the award. He stepped in fairly late in the piece when the original judge withdrew due to health issues. I thank him for adjudicating the award.

The best newspaper over 6,000 circulation went to The Border Watch at Mount Gambier, ahead of The Courier at Mount Barker and The Leader at Angaston. The best newspaper between 2,500 and 6,000 circulation went to The Murray Valley Standard at Murray Bridge for the seventh time in a row. Second place went to The Naracoorte Herald and third to the Whyalla News. In the category for best newspaper under 2,500 circulation the winner was The Loxton News, second place could not be split between The Pennant at Penola and The Islander at Kingscote, and third place went to The South Eastern Times at Millicent.

I will cover some of the other awards that were made on the night. The best sports story went to Ben Goldfinch of The Courier, second went to Bronte Hewett of the Plains Producer at Balaklava and third went to The Loxton News. In the award for excellence in journalism, Lisa Pahl of The Courier at Mount Barker was the winner, from Paul Mitchell of The Murray Pioneer at Renmark and Jacob Moss from The Border Watch.

In the category of editorial writing, The Courier won that award, ahead of The Times at Victor Harbor and The Border Watch. The best front page was won by the Riverland Weekly in its first year of entering the Country Press SA Awards. Second prize went to the Plains Producer and third to The Border Watch.

The best sports photograph was taken out by the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, ahead of The Islander and The Recorder at Port Pirie. The best news photograph category was taken out by The Murray Pioneer at Renmark, second The Border Watch and third the Northern Argus at Clare. The best supplement was won by The Islander, with second place to The Border Watch and third to the Yorke Peninsula Country Times.

Best advertising feature was taken out by The Loxton News, ahead of the Barossa & Light Herald and The Courier. The best advertisement (priced product) was won by the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, ahead of The Murray Pioneer and The Courier. The best advertisement (image/branding) was won by The Border Watch ahead of The Naracoorte Herald and the Riverland Weekly.

I would like to thank Country Press SA for the opportunity to be involved with those awards. I think members in this place who have attended the annual dinner, like my colleague the Hon. Mr Gazzola, know that they run those awards in a first-class fashion. They really do highlight the excellence in journalism that is featured in country newspapers across this state.

Time expired.