SA rural writer Nigel Austin is national runner-up

South Australian journalist, author and rural editor for The Advertiser Nigel Austin was named runner-up of the prestigious 2011 John Deere Australian Star Prize for Rural Writing with a story titled ‘The Great Grain Gain’. The story which focussed on the revitalisation of the Australian grain industry, was published in the May 2010 edition of the paper’s Business Monthly publication.

South Australian journalist, author and rural editor for The Advertiser Nigel Austin was named runner-up of the prestigious 2011 John Deere Australian Star Prize for Rural Writing with a story titled ‘The Great Grain Gain’. The story which focussed on the revitalisation of the Australian grain industry, was published in the May 2010 edition of the paper’s Business Monthly publication.

Queensland-based rural journalist Ashley Walmsley won the 2011 John Deere Australian Star Prize for Rural Writing and a trip to Canada later this year to attend an international gathering of his peers.

Walmsley’s article about the Asian honeybee incursion in Australia was judged the winning entry in the national competition organised by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ). ‘Asian Invasion’ was cover story for the November 2010 issue of the Good Fruit and Vegetables magazine which he edits for Rural Press Ltd.

Walmsley’s story will now represent Australia in a prestigious international competition run by the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ). John Deere’s sponsorship is providing registration and airfare costs up to a value of $5000 for him to attend the award ceremony, which will be a major highlight of the IFAJ’s annual congress in Ontario, Canada, from September 14 to 18.

Award co-ordinator and ACAJ vice president Jane Milburn said the judges selected Walmsley’s article from a strong field of State finalists because it was a well-written and researched piece of great importance to the horticultural industry nationwide. The story highlighted horticultural groups’ lack of commitment to funding eradication of the Asian honeybee, despite the potential threat to their industries if the pest is allowed to spread.

In researching the story, the writer contacted more than 11 groups representing the major fruit and vegetable crops in Australia about their funding stance, as well as apiarists and biosecurity authorities about the consequences if the Asian honeybee is not contained.

John Deere’s advertising and communications manager Craig Pretorius said the company was pleased to sponsor the award as a way of rewarding excellence and helping spread the word about matters of importance to agribusiness and food production.

“Quality writing about farming issues is important to our sector, so we value this opportunity to support rural journalism and provide a professional development opportunity to Ashley,” Mr Pretorius said.

Ms Milburn said the ACAJ very much appreciated the professional development opportunities made possible through the support of John Deere, which alsosponsors the international award.

The John Deere Australian Star Prize for Rural Writing is part of a suite of awards run annually by the ACA J in association with Australia’s five State-based rural press clubs, with others including the Rabobank Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting and the Australian Star Prize for Rural Photography.

For more information and to view the winning entries visit www.acaj.org.au

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Media Contacts:

Jane Milburn
M: 0408 787 964
E: jane@milburnmedia.com