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Monday 23 November 2009
Media rewarded for positive ageing stories
Positive Ageing was the clear winner when hundreds of entries from media organisations
across Australia were judged and presented at the 2009 OPSO Media Awards according to
Older People Speak Out (OPSO) President Val French.
“Since 1994, OPSO has aimed to improve the public perception of ageing by rewarding the media
when they portray older people as positive, active, stimulating, experienced and valuable members
of our society.
“Australia has an ageing population and OPSO, through the media, is looking seriously at the
realities and issues facing the over 50’s and working on finding positive solutions.
“This year we have been delighted by the quality and quantity of the entries for the Media Awards
and they come from a wide range of organisations including metropolitan and regional media.
“Also this year we have included Q150 section which promotes the role of older people in 150
years of Queensland history. This section again highlights the contribution of older people and how
they continue to lead by example in their communities,” Ms French said.
Special guests at the presentation on Monday 23 November at Queensland State Library included:
Ms Noelene Brown, Australia’s first Ambassador for Ageing; Hon Karen Struthers MP,
Queensland Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women; Hon Cameron
Dick MP, Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations; Hon Phil Reeves
MP, Queensland Minister for Child Safety and Sport; Ms Melinda Bromley, Assistant Secretary
from the Office for the Ageing Australia representing Hon Justine Elliott MP, Federal Minister for
Ageing.
The awards were announced at Queensland State Library in Brisbane on Monday evening 23
November 2009.
Winners in the Q150 section:
Coverage of Events:
Print Media - Brendan O’Malley & Peter McNamara, The Courier-Mail, series Our Queensland
Photographic: Bill Key, Gold Coast Bulletin for series Moments in Time.
Radio: Kidz2Kidz Youth Choir –a Queensland Portrait.
Television: Joint winners – Chloe Cassidy, Network 10- Queensland-Shaping of a State; and
Anne Kruger, ABC TV Landline – Keepsake.
Profiles of Queenslanders:
Print Media: Toni McCrae, Fraser Coast Chronicle for We dragged each other up and down.
Photographic: Denis Conomos & team for book “Images of Greek and Greek Cypriots in
Queensland 1859-2009.
Radio: Joint winners – Stefan Armbruster, SBS Radio for Uncle Seaman Dan & Debbie Kallik
ABC Radio Mt Isa for Drover’s Stories
Television: Megan Woodward, ABC TV Stateline for Angelo
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National Awards
National Metropolitan/Weekend newspaper and newspaper magazine articles:
Winner: Mark Irving, West Weekend Magazine for Village People.
2nd place: Cheryl Critchley, Herald Sun for Bessie saves the day and why do we suffer
3rd place: Sushi Das, The Age for Threescore and Ten
National Regional and surburban newspapers – weekly, bi-weekly & daily:
Winner: Toni McCrae, Fraser Coast Chronicle for Over bloody eighty and bloody lovin it.
2nd place: Joint winners-Susan Graham, Townsville Sun for Body of work Gilly’s push for powered
bike legislation overhaul; and Nadine Fisher, Tweed Daily News for The Secret sex lives of seniors.
3rd place: Anne-Marie Roberts, Bendigo Weekly for The responsibility of a role model
National Magazines: Joint winners – Karen Graham, Retirement Publishing for Buckleys Choice
and Elizabeth Rye, Gladstone News Weekly for Recipes of Life and Friendship.
2nd place: Lyn Gunning, Retirement Publishing for Bypass to Adventure.
3rd place: Linda Smith, Pacific Magazines for Master of the universe at 60.
Photography
Metropolitan daily newspapers & magazines: Kate Geraghty, Sydney Morning Herald for The
Miracle Worker – Dr Catherine Hamlin.
2nd place:Barry Barker, West Australian for Rainbow Warrior
3rd place: Megan Johnson, Sun Herald for Stylish in the city and Michael Wilson, The West
Australian for Albany’s Granny Grommets.
Regional and surburban newspapers: Graham Fisher, Barossa Herald for Hearl Hurled.
2nd place: Andrew Seymour, Noosa Journal for Ouch.
3rd place: Beverly Laley, Toowoomba Chronicle for Ben & Mavis and Andrew Seymour, Noosa
Journal for You may now kiss the bride.
Television
National Television News: Petrina Zaphir & Damian Leschke, Channel Nine for Dr James Wright
(3 stories).
2nd place: Adam McIllrick & Dion Ambrose, NBN TV Newcastle for Phyl Delves.
3rd place:Jane Goldsmith, NBN TV Newcastle for The Pink Rats.
Documentaries & interviews under 10 minutes: Ian Henschke, ABC TV South Australia for
Professor Nordin.
2nd place: Tim Gerritsen, ABV TV SA for Horse industry pioneer Mavis Lockwood.
3rd place: John Taylor, ABC TV QLD for Old Trainer.
Documentaries & interviews: Joint winners - Danny Carretti with Bill Collins, Fox Classics for
Roger Moore, Classic Bond and Roger Carter, ABC TV Australian Story for When we were racers-
Jack Brabham.
3rd place: Andrew Denton, ABV TV, Enough Rope – Michael Parkinson.
Radio: Debbie Kallik, ABC Radio Mt Isa for series Drovers Stories.
2nd place: Bernadette Young, ABC Radio Perth for Life Journeys – Alan Elwell.
3rd place: Natalie Jones, ABC Radio Goldfields Esperance for Harry Donald for Nat Jones and Liz
Pye Curtin FM101 for Interview with Rusty Walkley.
Senior Specific newspaper articles: Yvonne Natalie Williams, Senior Life Victoria for Graffiti
Buster turns mentor.
2nd place: Cheril Kane, Sunshine Coast Seniors Newspaper for Men at work in the kitchen
3rd place: Lee Opitz, The Senior Victoria for Maria swears by a hard days work.
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Senior Newsletters – Presentation & content: Nikki Christensen, Combined Pensioners &
Superannuants Assoc of NSW for The Voice April 2009 edition.
2nd place: Robert Lesca, Burdekin Community Assoc for Round-a-bout for seniors Ed81.
3rd place: Deb Underdown, Burnie Brae Senior Citizens Centre for Burnie Brae News July 2009.
Intergenerational Journalism:
Print: Linda Muller, Seniors Lifestyle Bayside Magazine for Music Transcends the Ages.
Photograph: Sally Walker-Brown, Seniors Lifestyle Bayside Magazine for Music Transcends the
Ages.
Electronic: Ian Henschke, ABC Stateline South Australia for Birthing Kits
Peoples Choice:
Photograph: Robert Muir for Joy to Behold in Sun Herald Travel.
Nominated by Dr Anne Ring, Sydney
Print: Sue Pieters-Hawke for article Don’t let it get you down in The Weekend Australian.
Nominated by Dr Anne Ring, Sydney
Advertisement: Wallace Bishop’s I Shop- broadcast Channel 7.
Nominated by Chris Procopis , Grandparents Program.
Electronic: Stephanie Ferrier, ABC TV Melbourne for 103 year old learners.
Nominated by: Brian Korner of Brisbane.
OPSO Special Award: Kaye Fallick for About Seniors website and weekly electronic newsletter.
Nominated by: Judith Summers of Melbourne.
Ends
For further information on the awards please contact: Val French phone (07)3219 2572 mobile
0419020924.
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