Your stories making your local newspaper

LAST Friday was one of those rare days away from the Loddon. Instead of following up story ideas (and advertising) in our wonderful local communities, there was a trip south to Geelong for the Victorian Country Press Association annual conference.

The newspaper industry across country Victoria has been impacted by COVID for two years and this was a long-awaited opportunity for local paper publishers to gather in person.

Imagine the humility experienced when it was announced that your newspaper, the Loddon Herald, was the recipient of two major awards - Best Community Campaign (under 2000 circulation) for our series of articles on the Loddon’s child care crisis and then, collecting the top award for Overall Newspaper Excellence (under 2000 circulation).

The Loddon Herald - born just over 10 months ago - is the vehicle, the platform, for our local communities.

It is our readers, our advertisers and collectively our Loddon towns and districts who are the true recipients of these awards.

The honours recognise the role of the true local newspaper in mirroring what is happening in local communities, what people are thinking and saying.

They underpin the genuine commitment of rural-based newspaper publishers to sharing the stories of the present and the past, shaping the future.

When selecting our entries for the VCPA awards from editions up to June 30, we felt compelled to include the childcare series that remains ongoing.

The May 13 edition was when the story broke. It was an edition that also captured in photographs the Mother’s Day Classic in Bridgewater, an update on local farmers sweating for more funds from the State Government to fight wheel cactus, the Newbridge residents wanting to keep a dirt road, an article for historian Ken Arnold while in sport there was the welcome bye for injury-hit Boort and horse jumping at Powlett.

But one edition is just the start of a major award. We were required to submit three.

Our May 27 edition had a follow up on childcare with the launch of a petition by Ripon MP Louise Staley, late news on COVID restrictions, a State Budget allocation for a new fire station at Serpentine, plans for a tractor display precinct in Pyramid Hill and the olive oil harvest while in sport there was the dominance of Mitiamo in football and Wedderburn and Boort preparing for the Loddon Derby that weekend.

The third edition submitted with the entry pack was June 24 when Newbridge residents stepped up their advocacy for water and sewerage connection, Boort’s Naomi Malone was recognised in the 2021 Victorial Rural Health Awards, the late breaking news of Tracey Wilson’s resignation as Inglewood and Districts Health Service CEO, Calivil’s Jade Clymo talking about milk prices, a special real estate feature for Greg Fathers, our promotion of the Active Farmers’ Run for Resilience and Wedderburn’s stunning A Grade netball win.

During breakout time at the VCPA conference, other newspaper proprietors asked why the “Herald” had been chose as your newspaper’s name. Simple: To herald and proclaim the achievements, hopes and dreams of Loddon communities.

That very brief precis of the three submitted editions for the top award cateogry - making your Loddon Herald country Victoria’s newspaper of the area - is just a portion of the many stories in those three weeks and since January 28.

Newspapers are much more than stories. There are photoraphs, there’s the printing on the Newsprinters press in Wodonga and there are the advertisers, the people share a real commitment to business in the Loddon and advertise in your Loddon Herald (without the ads, this newspaper would not exist, so a more than big thank you to them).

To our readers: you have placed faith in the Loddon Herald, you entrust us to share your stories and this is a responsibility we respect.

To be recognised by peers is gratifying for the voice of local communities and as we continue to evolve, we know there are many more stories still to be told.

To come back from Geelong with two VCPA awards just goes to show the Loddon’s voice is being heard. Thank you.

By CHRIS EARL

2021 AWARDS

Best Community Campaign (Circulation under 2000)

Winner - Loddon Herald - Child care crisis Judge’s comments: An exceptional entry. The Loddon Herald demonstrates how to do a community campaign well. Child care is a topic that would resonate with most of the community and it fleshed out all angles. The campaign was supported with strong front pages, a wide representation of voices, editorials and an effective message. Importantly, it received great community feedback. Well done.

Newspapers are the heart of their communities and part of their role is to be the community voice. It is important that we listen to what is important to them and when necessary, give them a stronger public voice. A good community campaign is well worth the effort and can bring about change for the better.

Overall Newspaper Excellence Award (Circulation under 2000)

Winner – Loddon Herald Judge’s comments: The strong front pages set the scene for what is to come inside this great community newspaper. I particularly like the fact the newspaper is taking up a campaign on behalf of its community, sending that message loud and clear through clearly identified taglines. The content is comprehensive and local; a combination of strong news, features, photographs and advertising, supported by good clean layouts and overall production.

It has been another challenging year for newspapers however I congratulate each and every entry in this section for continuing to publish quality products for your community.

Joanne Angelina Germanotta? 15. What number is ‘knock at the door’ in Bingo? 16. What is the smallest country in the world? 17. Who was the youngest British Prime Minister? 18. In bowling, what’s it called when you get three strikes in a row? 19. What is Japanese sake made from? 20. Who is Australia’s Health Minister? ANSWERS

Greg Hunt. Pitt (The Younger). 18. A turkey. 19. Rice. 20. Gaga. 15. Four. 16. Vatican City. 17. William Thomas Edison. 13. Volga River. 14. Lady Cleveland. 10. Paprika. 11. Theseus. 12. Rhea. 8. Canard, Chat or Cheval. 9. Grover Doctor Who. 5. A Kitten. 6. Earl Grey. 7. The 1. Trainspotter. 2. Three. 3. Passion fruit. 4