ABC winners at 2024 Rural Press Club of Victoria Awards
ABC journalists reporting on floods, fires, homelessness and a cold case disappearance were among the winners at the Victorian Rural Press Club’s Rural and Regional Journalism and Photography Awards.
The ABC had finalists in 15 of the 16 categories and won five awards, with many others commended and highly commended. The wins were for Young Journalist of the Year, Best Feature Story, Best News Audio and Visual and Most Innovative Journalism.
In a big year for regional news, including floods, fires, the tragic disappearance of Samantha Murphy and the Daylesford pub crash, the ABC’s regional bureaus showcased how valuable it is to connect with communities in their times of need across all platforms to keep audiences informed on the issues that matter while holding those in power to account.
Natasha Schapova was named the Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year, with the judges saying her three outstanding, well-crafted stories showcased her versatility and ability to take local issues to state and national audiences, triggering important reforms.
Natasha’s piece about an unfair land tax applied to a granny flat housing an elderly mother, led to the tax bill being cancelled. Her story ‘Residents Vulnerable 3G Switch-off’, about concerns the 3G shutdown would cut off remote communities hit by bushfires, resulted in Telstra upgrading the local mobile phone tower.
Mim Hook took home two trophies, for Most Innovative Journalism for “Where is Marcia Ryan?” and Best News Story Audio for “Floods and Fires in the same week”. The “Where is Marcia Ryan” series “showcases how innovative journalistic storytelling can breathe new life into an important local story”, the judges said. ” The series ultimately helped bring new information forward about a cold case disappearance and was responsible for encouraging police to reopen the case.”
The judges said Mim’s coverage of floods and fires was “a stunning reminder of the role of local broadcasting during emergencies, the value of local knowledge and the trust communities place in the ABC during these moments of crisis and recovery”.
Best Feature Story went to Josie Taylor, Emma D’Agostino and Danielle Bonica of ABC Central Victoria for ‘A Fine Balance’. The image-rich piece sheds light on how unaffordable housing is forcing families into a life of fine balance — juggling the extremes of homelessness and bushfire risk.
“While readers might be moved to tears, the team did not exploit nor sensationalise in their reporting,” the judges said. “It highlights the importance of contacts, connections with the community, and being given the time to truly dig deep into a story
Harrison Tippet from ABC News Geelong won Best News Story Visual for “Historic Decision” . The report details how Robert Farquharson became the first person in Victoria to have his right to control the graves and memorials of his children removed.
Judges said the story was told with great respect for the young victims, their family and the broader community, saying: “It was a genuine exclusive, packed with powerful interviews with members of the boys’ family.”
Full list of ABC winners, commended and highly commended
Media Outlet of the Year
- Commended: ABC Gippsland
Journalist of the Year
- Highly Commended: Lexie Jeuniewic, ABC Ballarat
- Commended: Else Kennedy, ABC Mildura-Swan Hill
Photographer of the Year
- Commended: Angus Mackintosh, ABC Wimmera
Ray Frawley Young Journalist of the Year
- Winner: Natasha Schapova, ABC Gippsland and now at ABC Geelong
- Commended: Faith Tabalujan, ABC Rural; Tamara Clark, ABC Mildura
Community Champion
- Commended: Rachael Lucas, ABC Gippsland
Best Local Photography
- Commended: Anne Simmons, ABC Gippsland, “Admiring the organ chamber”
Best Breaking News Story
- Commended: Bec Symons, ABC Gippsland, “Familiar faces as a community grasps with fires and floods”, Jane McNaughton, Victorian Country Hour, “Avian Influenza”
Most Innovative Journalism
- Winner: Mim Hook, ABC Gippsland, “Where is Marcia Ryan?
- Highly Commended: Jeremy Story Carter, ABC, “Kick in Hope”
- Commended: Natasha Schapova and Rachel Clayton, ABC News, “Artificial Reefs Slowing Erosion”
Best Sports Story
- Commended: Jeremy Story Carter, ABC, “Wahgunyah, undefeated”; Harrison Tippet, ABC Geelong, “Ability City: Inclusive sport providing opportunities for participants and community in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions”; Tim Lee, Landline, “Kicking new goals”
Best Feature Story
- Winner: Josie Taylor, Emma D’Agostino and Danielle Bonica, ABC Central Victoria, “A fine balance”
- Commended: Rachael Lucas, ABC Gippsland, “Single older women living in converted tiny homes, cabins at caravan parks amid housing crisis”; Rochelle Kirkham, ABC Ballarat, “Guardian angels”
Best News Story – Visual
- Winner: Harrison Tippet, ABC Geelong, “Historic Decision”
- Highly Commended: Shannon Schubert, ABC Central Victoria, Rochester Flood Anniversary
- Commended: Charmaine Manuel and Ashlee Aldridge, ABC News, “Mansfield’s fight to save its local hospital”; Natasha Schapova, ABC Gippsland, “3G Shutdown threatens remote communities”; Bec Symons, ABC Gippsland, “Briagolong Fires Ravages”
Best News Story – Audio
- Winner: Mim Hook, ABC Gippsland, “Floods and fires in the same week”
- Highly Commended: Georgia Lenton-Williams, ABC Gippsland (RN Breakfast), “Mushroom meal cook charged over suspected poisoning deaths”
- Commended: Daniel Miles, ABC News, Safe Coalition seat gets behind the voice
Best News Story
- Commended: Else Kennedy and Francesco Salvo, ABC Rural, “Radiation fears, contentious business practices at the heart of proposed mineral sands mine hearing”
Best Agribusiness Story
- Highly Commended: Jane McNaughton, ABC Victorian Country Hour, “Avian influenza”
- Commended: Meg Powell, ABC Tasmania, “Virtual fencing and the collar debate”
Best On-Farm Story
- Commended: Faith Tabalujan, ABC Rural, “Elderberry pioneers”
Best Feature Story
- Commended: Rachael Lucas, ABC Gippsland “Single older women living in converted tiny homes, cabins at caravan parks amid housing crisis”; Rochelle Kirkham, ABC Ballarat “Guardian angels”
Best Sports Story
- Commended: Harrison Tippet ABC Geelong, “Ability City: Inclusive sport providing opportunities for participants and community in one of Australia’s fastest-growing regions”
Most Innovative Journalism
- Commended: Natasha Schapova and Rachel Clayton, ABC News “Artificial Reefs Slowing Erosion”
Best Breaking News
- Commended: Bec Symons, ABC Gippsland “Familiar faces as a community grasps with fires and floods”; Jane McNaughton, Victorian Country Hour “Avian Influenza”
Community Champion
- Commended: Rachael Lucas ABC Gippsland
Young Journalist of the Year
- Commended: Faith Tabalujan, ABC Rural; Tamara Clark, ABC Mildura
Photographer of the Year
- Commended: Angus Mackintosh ABC Wimmera now with Triple J
Journalist of the Year
- Highly Commended: Lexie Jeuniewic ABC Ballarat
- Commended: Else Kennedy ABC Mildura Swan Hill
Media Outlet of the Year
- Commended: ABC Gippsland