SOUTH East journalists have swept the competition at the Rural Media and Communications South Australian and Northern Territory (RMC SA/NT) Awards recently.
Two journalists from the South East and one media photographer have taken a combined six awards at Friday night’s event.
Naracoorte-based Stock Journal reporter Catherine Miller received the 2023 Rural Journalist of the Year, 2023 Best Rural Journalist – Print, 2023 Best Royal Show Story and the 2023 Best Rural/Regional Photojournalist Award.
The Border Watch journalist Charlotte Varcoe also received the 2023 Best Rural Journalist – Regional Print while Robe-based media photographer Jacqui Bateman received the 2023 Best Royal Adelaide Show Photo.
Ms Miller said it was a “dream come true” to be named the RMC SA/NT Journalist of the Year following in the footsteps of many talented radio, television, print and online journalists whom she had the utmost respect for.
“I have been trying to win the award since I started as a very green South East journalist for Stock Journal 20 years ago after my editor in chief Peter Brady took a chance on me, a recent Agricultural Science graduate who enjoyed writing,” Ms Miller said.
“I have won several highly commended mentions over the years but to become the first Stock Journal journalist in 16 years to claim the major award makes it even more special.”
She said while others may consider rural and regional journalism a “stepping stone” in their career she believed she would never tire of “uncovering fantastic stories” of the people in rural South Australia.
“I also believe being regionally based and involved in our family farm helps me keep my finger on the pulse of South Australia agriculture and the stories that need to be told,” she said.
Ms Varcoe echoed Ms Miller’s comments, stating regional journalism was more important than ever considering the constant issues outside metropolitan areas.
“Regional South Australia has and always will be the lifeblood of South Australia,” Ms Varcoe said.
“I began my journalism career as an intern at The Border Watch in 2017 where previous editor Jason Wallace took a chance on me before securing permanent part-time at the Naracoorte Herald.
“Having this deep understanding of the regions from Naracoorte all the way down to Port MacDonnell brings an advantage many metropolitan media would never have.”
Ms Varcoe said she was surprised she received the award, yet continued to say it was always a team effort.
“Without a full team of journalists, editors, advertising staff and the community regional newspapers would never exist,” she said.
“We need to continue to support regional journalists because they have the opportunity to change the future of their regions and improve the lives of many by advocating on the community’s behalf and asking the questions that need to be answered.”
