Adele Ferguson wins the Gold Quill

The Gold Quill

(HC Highly Commended)

Winner: Adele Ferguson (The Age)

JUDGES:
Adele Ferguson’s expose of systemic corruption and abuse across the national 7-Eleven retail empire was an outstanding feat of investigative journalism. It triggered the resignation of 7-Eleven’s Australian founder and chairman, Russ Withers, high-level inquiries and big compensation payouts. The story was especially compelling because it revealed the wholesale exploitation of some of the most vulnerable migrant workers in Australia. It gave voice to voiceless. The judges were deeply impressed by Ferguson’s forensic investigative techniques, her determination to see justice done and her powerfully dispassionate reporting style.
The Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award

Winner: Adele Ferguson (The Age)

JUDGES:

Adele Ferguson holds the torch to the belly of the big end of town. Her fearless accounting of financial malpractice delivers us journalism equal to the power of the regulators she often leads to the scene of the crime. In a series of exclusive stories she unpicked complex transactions and highly technical documents to expose wages fraud at Australia’s biggest convenience chain 7-Eleven, serious misconduct within NAB’s financial planning arm and insider trading in one of the nation’s biggest wealth management companies, IOOF. Heads rolled in these institutions as authorities responded with Senate hearings and further investigation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission while those disadvantaged by corporate deceits were given avenues for redress through compensation schemes established as a result of Ferguson’s rigour.

Other finalists: Caro Meldrum-Hanna (ABC Four Corners); Paige Taylor & Michael McKenna (The Australian); Nick McKenzie & Richard Baker (The Age)

The Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of the Year Award

Winner: Gerard Whateley

JUDGES:
Gerard Whateley sets agendas. His work across radio, television and print has a no-nonsense directness about it that treats the audience with respect. His entry showed journalistic versatility combined with a knowledge and understanding of a wide range of sport. He can move comfortably from a forensic and combative interview to the color and enthusiasm of calling a Melbourne Cup or a cricket Test. His television interviewing can be penetrating. His questioning of James Hird showed a confident grasp of complex detail. His analytical assessment of the booing of Adam Goodes was fresh and uncomplicated. In interviews and analysis Whateley does not take a backward step but he works with dignity and resists the temptation to hector.  His enthusiasm for the theatre of sport is obvious in his live calling while his passion for sport and interest in its participants shines in all his work. He is both incisive and eloquent, a genuine all-rounder.

Other finalists: Gregory Baum (The Age); Will Swanton (The Australian); Michael Warner (The Herald Sun)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mike Sheahan

The Young Journalist of the Year Award

Winner: Tom Minear (Herald Sun)

JUDGES:
Journalism can take heart that the next generation of industry leaders is ready to accept the challenges of our times. Entries in the Young Journalist of the Year demonstrated flexibility, multi-skilling, clever use of social media and innovation. One entrant developed a piece of software to create a tool that produced a good story by synthesizing data bases. CITATION FOR WINNER Tom’s persistence and contacts exposed the identity and backgrounds of Islamic State supporters in Melbourne, including those with links to the men accused of plotting the Anzac Day bombing. Tom also secured the vision of Bill Shorten using his phone while driving and wrote an impressive narrative of the Christmas Day bushfires. Breaking news coverage of the Wyndham Lake tragedy and his help with a Herald Sun campaign for swimming lessons in schools completed a distinctive portfolio.

Highly Commended (HC): Reid Butler (A Current Affair, Nine Network)

JUDGES:
A solid piece of current affairs journalism on the mishandling of asbestos disposal at the Bulla Tip. Reid’s story prompted the Environmental Protection Authority to examine asbestos disposal practices at other sites, as well as an examination of the EPA’s own procedures.

Other finalists: Liam Mannix (The Age); Therese Allaoui (Leader)
Best News Report in Writing

Winner: Annika Smethurst (Herald Sun)
TITLE: Choppergate

JUDGES:

Annika Smethurt’s explosive story on Bronwyn Bishop’s use of a taxpayer-funded helicopter to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser in Geelong had enormous implications for national politics. It led to the removal of Ms Bishop as Speaker and had a decisive effect in bringing about Tony Abbott’s demise as Prime Minister. Annika demonstrated persistence in pursuing the story both in print and online as new details emerged. It is a fine example of print journalism.

HC: Julia Medew (The Age)

Title: Patients face $20 GP bill

JUDGES:

Julia Medew’s story was the result of dogged investigation utilising background knowledge and contacts she had developed as a Health Reporter. The story forced the government to dump it’s co-payment policy due to an intense public reaction. The backflip was the beginning of the end for Tony Abbott’s Prime Ministership.

Other finalists: Annika Smethurst, James Campbell, Ellen Whinnett & Andrea Hamblin (Herald Sun); Michael Bachelard & Armando Cordoba (The Age)

Best Feature in Writing

Winner: Margaret Simons & Dave Tacon (The Monthly)
Title: Fallen Angels – What Australian Sex Tourists Leave Behind

JUDGES:
Margaret Simons has produced a well-researched and compelling piece of long form journalism underpinned by a strong sense of law and justice, and social responsibility. The story highlights the exploitative behaviour of men in a vulnerable society, and questions the role of Australian agencies in holding such men to account.

No HC

Other finalists: Miki Perkins (The Age); Michael Gordon (The Age); Ellen Whinnett (Herald Sun)

Best Business Story in any Medium

Winner: Adele Ferguson, Sarah Danckert & Klaus Toft (ABC Four Corners/The Age)

Title: 7-Eleven: The Price of Convenience

JUDGES:
The 7-Eleven exposé by Adele Ferguson, Klaus Toft and Sarah Danckert, stands out as exceptional in a strong field of nominees. It has the lot: a billion dollar private company, a global brand, whistleblowers, undercover surveillance, explosive documents. The story is told deftly across multiple platforms and it continues to unfold.

HC: Josie Taylor & Alison Branley (7.30, ABC Television)
Title: Evocca College

JUDGES:
A powerful investigation the ABC’s Josie Taylor and Alison Branley, these stories reveal systemic exploitation, and alarming practices in the vocational education sector.

Other finalists: Madeleine Morris (ABC TV); Richard Baker & Nick McKenzie
(The Age)

Keith Dunstan Quill for Best Columnist/Blogger

Winner: Waleed Aly (The Age)
Title: Zooming Out 

JUDGES:
Waleed Aly’s columns stand up off the page and argue his case powerfully, as if in person. His writing takes you by the shoulders and shakes you. His analysis is clear-eyed and his logic effortless. Waleed is a deep thinker who dismantled the cynical but prevailing arguments on deaths at sea with a clarity that punctured hypocrisies with the sharpest of insights.

HC: Tim Colebatch (Inside Story)
Title: national affairs columns

JUDGES:
Tim’s columns exhibit a great skill in making the apparently inaccessible surprisingly accessible, while always searching for countervailing trends. Numbers people are rare in journalism; numbers people who are also capable of telling the human stories behind the numbers even more so

Other finalists: Tony Wright (The Age); Michael Gordon (The Age)
Best Breaking News Coverage

Winner: Jacqueline Felgate & Emily Angwin (Seven News)
Title: Lake Rescue

JUDGES:
Jacqueline’s coverage of this tragic breaking story ticked all the boxes, exclusive footage of the failed attempt to rescue four children trapped in a car, the first interviews from the scene,and an accurate account of the event all done under intense deadline pressure. The value of her rep.ort was underlined by the fact Victoria Police used her vision to help investigate the incident.

HC: Anthony Dowsley, James Dowling, Samantha Landy, David Hurley & Wes Hosking (Herald Sun)
Title: Mother’s Day bomb plot

 JUDGES:
The judges said this was a great example of a team coverage of a complex and rapidly breaking story.

Other finalists: Jon Kaila, Wes Hosking & Andrea Hamblin (Herald Sun); Emily Rice (Nine News)
The RACV Transport Quill
Winner: John Trevorrow & Jesse Wray-McCann (Leader)
Title: Keep 70 campaign

JUDGES:
The Leader campaign across 33 mastheads, dubbed #Keep70, persuaded the Victorian Government to abandon a bureaucratic decision to automatically reduce the 70kph speed limit on almost 2000 roads across Victoria. The Leader journalists who had campaigned for the change then reported the back down on the front page of the Herald Sun.

HC: Adam Carey (The Age)

Title: Metro leaves passengers stranded to make money

JUDGES:
This exclusive story revealed the full range of tactics used by Melbourne rail operator Metro to hit its punctuality and reliability targets and win lucrative performance bonuses from the government. Carey’s thorough and detailed reporting provided commuters with a rare insight into the issues around their daily commute.

Other finalists: Ashley Argoon (Herald Sun); Rania Spooner, Cameron Houston & Adam Carey (The Age)

The Victorian Government Quill for Reporting on Disability Issues

Winner: Ruth Lamperd (Herald Sun)
Title: Play On, Neale

JUDGES:
Lamperd’s inspirational, compelling and brilliantly-presented account of football legend Neale Daniher’s battle with Motor Neurone Disease, powerfully demonstrated the reality of how disability can randomly strike even the fittest among us. The judges were deeply impressed by her skill in winning the trust of Daniher and his family over many months and in distilling that work in a brilliant, long-form multi-media package. The Herald Sun campaign built on the story raised more than $1 million for MND research – an example of journalism at its best.

HC: Rachel Carbonell (ABC Radio National)

Title: Stuck in God’s waiting room 

JUDGES:
A thorough and well-researched report on the systemic problem of younger disabled patients being forced to accept accommodation in aged care facilities – a crisis that won’t be easily resolved by the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Other finalists: Patrick Carlyon (Sunday Herald Sun); Madeleine Morris & Gus Goswell (ABC TV)

Best Sports News Story in any Medium

Winner: Grant Baker, Michael Warner & Carly Crawford (Herald Sun)
Title:1,294 pages of secrets

JUDGES:
This trio gained exclusive access to 1294 revealing pages of transcripts from the secretive 17-day AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal hearings in the case against 34 Essendon players. An eight-page investigation was published in print and all 1294 pages went online in an interactive expose that included bombshell stories about the physical effects of supplements on players, the Bombers’ supplements schedule and that Stephen Dank also sourced drugs for Geelong. A genuine scoop.

HC: Patrick Bartley (The Age)
Title: Terry Bailey’s home in lockdown after six rounds of bullets fired through his front door

JUDGES:
Patrick Bartley is fearless in exposing some of the darker issues affecting racing. Just hours after shots were fired into the front door of chief steward Terry Bailey’s home, Bartley spoke to and reported exclusively on what had happened to Bailey and the fact he was still unrepentant in his drive to make Victorian racing drug free.

Other finalists: Gerard Whateley, Mark Robinson & Tim Hodges (AFL 360, Fox Footy); Jake Niall (The Age)

Best Sports Feature in any Medium

Winner: Mark Robinson (Herald Sun)
Title: none

JUDGES:
When Phil Walsh revealed to Mark Robinson that his all-consuming passion for football meant he had disconnected with his son, no one realised how prophetic his words would be. Walsh admitted he had not been a good father in the past but was desperate to be there for his boy in the future. When Walsh was murdered and his son Cy charged, Robinson’s interview and accompanying first-person feature gave a rare insight into the troubled relationship and Phil Walsh the man.

HC: Mike Hirchfield & Brad Smith (Fox Footy)

Title: Dan Menzel – A Long Way Home

JUDGES:
Dan Menzel gave one season of promise for AFL team Geelong, before he ruptured his ACL in September 2011. By August 2013, he had ruptured his ACL 3 more times and had undergone 4 knee reconstructions. This hour-long feature documentary, shot over three years as a personal video diary, offers a unique and intimate insight into the pain and turmoil experienced by a professional athlete away from the bright lights of game day.

Other finalists: Mike Sheahan (Fox Footy), Tony Wright (The Age)
Best Suburban Report in Writing

Winner: Nicholas Payne, Fiona Sexton & Jon Andrews (Bayside Leader)

Title: The Grass Ceiling campaign

JUDGES:
This campaign – which investigated the gender divide in sporting facilities available to girls in suburban Melbourne and particularly the Bayside area – was a classic grassroots campaign for this paper. It identified a community issue, raised its profile and ultimately, affected worthwhile change. The judges were particularly impressed with the journalists’ ability to convince a council to provide self-incriminating data which was a critical part of this campaign. The reporters unearthed an issue of great relevance to the local community and digital executions added depth and interest to the campaign. This campaign demonstrates how a suburban newspaper is an integral part of the fabric of of a community and can prompt change within the community.

HC: Therese Allaoui (Mordialloc Chelsea Leader)

JUDGES:
This entry showed a real commitment to a story – the journalist was tenacious and dogged in her approach, creatively taking steps to force the police into action. The investigative work involved took a real-life community concern and put it squarely on the “local” agenda, revealing the extent of the problem locally.

Other finalist: Kate Ashley-Griffiths, Emily Webb, Kimberley Seedy & Andrew Rennie (Knox Leader)
Best Cartoon

Winner: Andrew Dyson (The Age)
Title: Remote Control

JUDGES:
Great line, great idea, with his simple timeless image about ‘lifestyle choices’, Andrew Dyson speaks for the nation.

HC: Mark Knight (Herald Sun)
Title: Yes, Peta

JUDGES:
Mark Knight ticks all the boxes of a good cartoon, humor, draughtsmanship, and caricature. He illustrates the relationship between the former Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff Peta Credlin perfectly.

Other finalists: John Ditchburn (Ballarat Courier); Ron Tandberg (The Age)

Best Three Headlines in any Medium

Winner: Duska Sulicich (The Sunday Age)

Title: The Elephant in the Womb; The Unbearable Triteness of Being; The Malcontents

JUDGES:
All three headlines used word plays that worked on several levels. ‘The Elephant in the Womb’ works on many levels: pregnancy, US abortion debate, Republican party symbol and sounds good if read out aloud.

HC: Barrie Cassidy, Kate Coghlan, Kellie Mayo (Insiders, ABC)
Title: The Great Australia Day BBQ Stopper, Love will Tear Us Apart, That Sinking Feeling

JUDGES:

The headline ‘Love will tear us apart’ is a clever deployment of a popular song title to characterise how an issue that refused to fade into the background was paralysing the government.

Other finalists: Fergus Shiel (The Age); Cindy MacDonald (The Saturday Paper)
Best Illustration or Graphics in any Medium

Winner: Richard Giliberto (The Sunday Age)

Title: Saving the Planet

JUDGES:
The judges felt this entry was of an international standard. The artist illustrates a clear message about the imminent destruction of our planet by climate change, and challenges the delegates of the Paris Summit to clear the air. The strong use of colour and graphic elements are integrated with excellent typography to create this winning work.

HC: Richard Giliberto (The Saturday Age)
Title: Us Vs The

JUDGES:
Dynamic and technically savvy, this bold illustration perfectly illustrates the destructive motivations of Donald Trump

Other finalists: Andrew Dyson (The Age); Jim Pavlidis (The Age)

Best Use of Digital or Social Media

Winner: Mark Stehle, Felicity Lewis, Nathanael Scott, Tom McKendrick & Adele Ferguson (The Age)

Title: Revealed – How 7-Eleven is ripping off its workers

JUDGES:
This is a true multi-platform, multimedia offering on this important investigative story. No matter how much you read about the Seven-Eleven investigation, you could learn more by accessing this online version, with its effective use of video, original documentation, text and photography.

HC: Russell Skelton (ABC Fact Check)
Title: Fact file: Your questions on the Trans-Pacific Partnership answered

JUDGES:
This impressive entry had at its heart the effective use of the online medium to seek out and determine the concerns of the audience, and allow them to guide the journalism on a complex issue. The judges would like to see more of this kind of work.

Other finalists: Tom Whitty & Waleed Aly (The Project, Network Ten);
Best Coverage of an Issue or Event

Winner: Annika Smethurst & Rob Harris (Herald Sun)

Title: Bronwyn Bishop expenses scandal

JUDGES:
Bronwyn Bishop’s helicopter ride became a defining moment for Tony Abbott’s reign as Prime Minister, and the effects are still being felt today. Annika Smethurst and Rob Harris’s story came out of a forensic trawl of MPs’ expense claims. Despite official denial and obfuscation they broke several stories over the next fortnight, in particular making clever use of the Herald Sun’s digital platforms to exclusively reveal a picture of Mrs Bishop’s helicopter. Their relentless pressure finally told when Ms Bishop, one of Mr Abbott’s closest allies, was forced to resign.

HC: Mandy Squires (Geelong Advertiser)
Title: Bully city

JUDGES:
Mandy Squires’ series into bullying at Geelong City Hall started with revelations a psychologist was treating council employees, and ended nearly a year later with the State Government announcing an inquiry into the troubled council. Operating in a small newsroom, her impressive body of work constantly broke new ground and was highlighted by some innovative digital ideas. She was subjected to bullying and threats herself, but she never let up.

Other finalists: Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Sam Clark & Max Murch (ABC TV);
Jewel Topsfield, Sarah Whyte, Karuni Rompies & Amilia Rosa (The Age)

Best TV or Video News Report

Winner: Cameron Baud (Seven News)
Title: Puneet Puneet exclusive

JUDGES:
Cam’s dogged pursuit of hit-run killer Puneet Puneet led to a genuine exclusive that had been sought after by all TV networks for many years. Pictures of the fugitive in medical mask and with his parents were compelling, and it was the first time we’d heard from Puneet since he fled Australia.

HC: Kate Jones (Seven News)
Title: Court brawl

JUDGES:
Kate’s quick-thinking to capture a brawl inside the Magistrates Court, follow the story through lengthy legal machinations and fight to get it to air gave viewers a glimpse of a place never seen on television before.

Other finalists: Alexis Daish (Nine News); Karen Michael (Nine News)

Best TV or Video Current Affairs/Feature under 10 minutes

Winners: Tom Whitty & Waleed Aly (The Project, Network Ten)
Title: ISIL Is Weak

 JUDGES:
Using a powerful and innovative style of storytelling, Tom Whitty and WaleedAly’s editorial feature captured national and international attention, during a time of saturation coverage following the Paris attacks. Highly researched, well written and passionately delivered, this piece helped audiences contextualise the arguments around ISIL and their tactics. The relevance and impact of this video was measured by in its staggering online reach – almost 160 million views to date.
No HC

Other finalists: Sharnelle Vella (Ten News); Louise Milligan (7.30, ABC TV); Josie Taylor (7.30, ABC TV)

Best TV Or Video Current Affairs/Feature over 10 Minutes

Winner: Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker & Klaus Toft (ABC Four Corners/The Age)

Title: True Detectives – Corruption witness murders

JUDGES STATEMENT:
True Detectives is the culmination of years of dogged investigative reporting by Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker into Victoria’s gangland killings. With outstanding production by Klaus Toft, this report exposed corruption within Victoria Police and uncovered serious failings in its witness protection program. Baker and Mckenizie convinced George Williams and former police detectives to speak on camera, and used tasteful high impact re-enactments to detail the relationships between the criminal underworld and senior police detectives. The program also revealed one of Carl Williams cellmates at Barwon Prison had an association with former detective Paul Dale.

Highly commended: Belinda Hawkins (Australian Story, ABC TV)
Title: Being Bradman, Parts 1 and 2

JUDGES:
This was a story of significant national interest which took years of persistence to tell. Belinda Hawkins earned the trust of one of Australia’s most media shy families, exploring their struggles with the attention that came with the Bradman name. It was an intimate look which revealed surprising elements of a well known family, focusing Greta Bradman’s private battle with depression and suicide.

Other finalist: Louise Milligan (7.30, ABC TV)

The TAC Towards Zero Road Safety Quill

Winner: Christie Cooper (Seven News)
Title: It Won’t Happen to Me

JUDGES:
Cooper’s three outstanding reports on separate shocking fatal road accidents – including the death of Cooper Ratten in the Yarra Valley – sent a strong message about a range of random dangers on our roads. Each was an example of first-class television reporting – tight, thorough and well-edited with every angle covered. The judges applauded Cooper’s skill in reporting each tragedy with compassion, professionalism and an absence of cliche.

HC: Adam Carey (The Age)
Title: Damaged lives: the reality of ‘road toll’

JUDGES:
A ground-breaking and well-written news report and feature article that demonstrated the extent to which accidents rather than negligent or reckless behaviour are a major factor in most Victorian road fatalities.

Other Finalists: Brendan Roberts (Seven News); Riverine Herald (*Note – not in online system)

Best Radio News Report

Winner: Lauren Hilbert (Radio 3AW)

Title: Train and tram strike figures revealed

JUDGES:
Lauren used her journalistic nous to break new ground in her coverage of a public sector pay dispute – putting in hours of legwork, sifting through hundreds of pages of documents. She revealed that striking train and tram drivers demanding an 18 per cent pay rise had already received a 28 per cent increase over the previous six years. Lauren went beyond the obvious – dug deep – and delivered on an angle no-one had covered.

Highly Commended: Yvette Gray (Radio 3AW)
Title: Schoolgirl Murder

JUDGES:

Yvette’s report on a breaking news story went well beyond the bare facts available from police. She used her contacts to gain more information on the murder of a schoolgirl which had shocked the city – while remaining sensitive in her reporting and never straying into sensationalism.

Other finalists: Danny Tran (ABC Radio News); Emma Younger (774 ABC Melbourne)

Best Radio Current Affairs Report

Winner: Jon Faine, Daniel Ziffer & Tess Armstrong (774 ABC Melbourne)

Title: Rego-gate exposed: VicRoads’ broken system makes thousands of motorists criminals

JUDGES:
The report exposed a serious administrative problem effecting thousands of motorists – forcing an admission of fault by the state authority. VicRoads apologised, agreed to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and withdraw demerit points. An external auditor was appointed to deal with a litany of systemic problems exposed. The report stemmed from a dogged investigation of a complaint by a single caller to the program – and was an example of radio current affairs at its best.

Highly Commended: Neil Mitchell (Radio 3AW)
Title: Bill Shorten and The ‘L’ Word

JUDGES:

Mitchell obtained an apology from the alternative prime minister after exposing his misleading account of his role in the Labor leadership struggle. Bill Shorten later admitted to Mitchell he had ‘no alternative but to lie’.

Other finalists: Josie Taylor (PM, ABC Radio); Clare Rawlinson (774 ABC Melbourne)
The Student Journalist of the Year Award

Winner: Bridget Davies (RMIT)
Title: Women wounded on thin blue line

JUDGES:
A powerful insight into the unique contribution to the community of women in the police force, their traditional role at the front line dealing with grief, victims of abuse and tragedy, and the impact of the work on their lives. Bridget operated under deadline pressures, turning her story around to incorporate the suicide of a female force member.

The Story was about:
The mental and emotional trauma experienced by women police officers who have traditionally dealt with some of the most graphic crime scenes, and often received little support or counseling.

Other finalists: Jess Davis (RMIT); Hugh McMaster (University of Melbourne); Jack Paynter (Monash University)
Grant Hattam Quill for Investigative Journalism

Winner: Caro Meldrum-Hanna & Sam Clark (ABC Four Corners)
Title: Making a Killing

JUDGES:
This was a compelling and confronting investigation that continues to have far reaching consequences for the greyhound racing industry. Provided access to horrific covert footage, the team demonstrated extraordinary investigate skills and determination.

HC: Tammy Mills (The Age)
Title: Who killed Michelle?

JUDGES:
This story came close to winning the award. It is a wonderful example of determined and empathetic investigative reporting that resulted in the solving of thirty-year-old murder case.

Other finalist: Nick McKenzie, Richard Baker & Michael Bachelard (The Age)

Best Regional or Rural Affairs Report in any Medium

Winner: Mandy Squires (Geelong Advertiser)
Title: Torn Apart by Ice

JUDGES:
This is an investigation of the ice drug epidemic told in gripping words and detail. The series conveys the devastation and helplessness around a social problem with destructive tentacles deep into the community. The Addy also makes a bold bid for solutions, in the best tradition of regional media with uniquely local presence.

No HC

Other finalists: Stephanie Corsetti (ABC Radio, PM); Chris McLennon (The Weekly Times); Brigid Donovan, Heather Ewart, Ron Ekkel & Tony Kuric (Backroads, ABC TV) (*Note – last two names in entry not in system but supplied by agreement later)

Best Camera Work

Winner: Will Pristel (Seven News)
Title: Cop push

JUDGES:
Will’s exclusive shot was due to his intuition and years of experience. He sensed that something was about to happen, and was the only cameraman to capture the shot – not only pin-sharp but framed perfectly – that went all around the world.

HC: Cameron Schwarz (Nine News)
Title: Bradley Azzopardi Court

JUDGES:
Cameron’s vision of the man police had been hunting for over the callous hit-run of an elderly cyclist was a genuine exclusive. A perfect example of the difficult work at being in the volatile environment outside court.

Other finalists: Phil Loschiavo (Seven News); Will Pristel (Seven News) (*Note – shortlisted for another – second – entry)

Best News Photo

Winner: Joe Armao (The Age)

Title: A Miracle on the Mountain

JUDGES:
When 11-year-old autistic boy Luke Shembrook was found alive in rugged bushland after being missing for more than 4 days, everyone believed a miracle had taken place. Here the photographer has captured the tender, heartfelt moment when Luke’s mother is reunited with her son. It was a moment all of Victoria had been hoping and praying for.

HC: Meredith O’Shea (The Age)
Title: High Five

JUDGES:
This photo at a Reclaim Australia protest in Melbourne captures the moment a protestor and policeman share a clasped handshake. It was an image that went viral because it transcends the politics and polarisation so evident elsewhere on the day.

Other finalists: David Caird (Herald Sun); Michael Willson (AFL Media)

Best Sports Photo

Winner: Colleen Petch (Herald Sun)
Title: Cup Queen’s quiet moment
JUDGES: When Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup she was instantly swamped by well-wishers and the media. Here Colleen Petch captures an historic moment after Michelle found a quiet place to sit down on her own and reflect on exactly what she had just achieved.

HC: Scott Barbour (The Australian)
Title: Michelle Payne and her brother Steven Payne
JUDGES: A beautifully framed, touching and iconic image of history-making Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne with her strapper brother Stevie. It graced the front pages of several newspapers around Australia and was published across the world.

Other finalists: Michael Willson (AFL Media); Jay Town (Herald Sun)

Best Features Photograph

Winner: Michael Rayner (The Weekly Review)
Title: David Gulpilil – My Country
JUDGES:
In this portrait, the photographer has connected the audience with actor David Gulpilil in a remarkable way. Gulpilil’s face carries the pain he feels over injustices shown to his people as he talked about his latest film. The image is captivating.

HC: Justin McManus (The Age)
Title: Homeless Student
JUDGES:
Homeless woman ‘Alicia’ is pictured in this very Melbourne picture studying in her tent beneath a city bridge where she has lived for many months, while struggling to complete Year 11 at RMIT. This image enhanced the story exponentially.

Other finalists: Alex Coppel (Herald Sun); David Caird (Herald Sun)