Local ABC story wins National ACAJ Radio Journalism Award (July 2014)

SA based ABC Country Hour reporter, Laura Poole has won the national radio category of the 2014 Rabobank Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting.

Laura’s story, “Border tension over OJD” focused on how sheep producers were coping with the contentious regulations governing how the spread of sheep wasting disease, Ovine Johne’s Disease was being controlled. The radio piece was the culmination of considerable research and consultation by Laura with primary producers, sheep bodies and state regulators about the newly introduced OJD rules.

A notable quote caught by Laura was “South Australia might be half an hour behind Victoria, but sheep producers say they're years in front when it comes to managing Ovine Johne's Disease”.

The Rabobank Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting is run annually by the Australian Council for Agricultural Journalists, in association with Australia’s five dedicated rural media clubs. Each state rural media club selects finalists to represent them in the competition.

This year the national judging panel comprised the executive producer of ABCTV Landline - Peter McCuthceon, The Courier Mail senior journalist and rural/regional reporter - John McCarthy and media manager with NSW Farmers - Veneta Chappel.

The three national winners for radio, television and online categories have now been entered into the international competition, with the winners to be announced at the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress in Scotland next September.

Laura Poole’s winning radio entry, “Border tension over OJD” can be heard at the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-02/border-tension-over-ojd/4861008

This story formed part of the portfolio of radio journalism work that won Laura RMSA’s Telstra Rural Business Support Best Rural Journalist - Radio Award in December 2013.

With five years’ experience working for ABC Rural, Laura presented the South Australian Country Hour from Adelaide in 2012. She then briefly returned to a position as the Western Victorian ABC Rural Reporter to be with her partner in Horsham, broadcasting to western Victoria and south east South Australia.

In September 2013, Laura was approached by ABC Rural to return to Adelaide in the capacity of SA Rural executive producer.

Laura Poole