Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh has congratulated Chinchilla journalist Harry Clarke for taking out a prestigious award at the 2021 Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Annual Conference.
Mr Clarke, founder and editor of the online news publication Country Caller, took out the coveted Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism.
Mayor Paul McVeigh said he was immensely proud to see a local journalist take out the state’s richest reporting prize.
“This is an absolutely fantastic achievement for one of our own residents, who is working hard to share the stories of our people, places, and experiences,” Cr McVeigh said.
“Regional news is vitally important because it ensures the voices of our community are heard, while also bringing people together and celebrating all that makes the Western Downs a fantastic place to live, work and visit.
“On behalf of the Western Downs, I congratulate Harry on receiving this award and his ongoing dedication to regional and rural news.
“This prestigious award also puts a spotlight on the people that make our region so unique, and I wish Harry all the best for the future of his publication, which has been made stronger by this achievement.”
LGAQ’s Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism pays tribute to a pioneering storytelling team with the ABC who tragically died when their helicopter crashed near Lake Eyre in South Australia in 2011.
The annual award explores criteria such as newsworthiness, incisiveness, public benefit, and the impact on the understanding of the issues and challenges facing regional Queensland.
You can access the Country Caller here:
