About Us
The RURAL PRESS CLUB aims to strengthen the links between rural media, public relations, agribusiness and government groups in Queensland. It also offers members entry to national and world-wide networks of like-minded colleagues.
The RURAL PRESS CLUB committee is a diverse group of working journalists, media consultants, and agribusiness representatives and meets approximately four times a year. The RURAL PRESS CLUB website and automated booking system was developed in 2005 by then vice-president Jane Milburn, with Kerry Herron's Bonanza in the Bush lunch being the first event booked via the website.
Committee Members
Awards
The Rural Press Club is committed to excellence in rural journalism and photography.
In 2009 the club launched its inaugural Excellence in Rural Journalism Award. The recipient of the award receives air fares and registration to the annual IFAJ conference.
The club also participates in national and international Star Prize Awards for writing, broadcasting and photography and the National Alltech Young Rural Journalist Award.
2009 winners
Queensland Excellence Award and broadcast winner:
Pip Courtney – Landline ABC TV.
Photography: Chris Ison – Rockhampton Bulletin
Print Journalism: Brad Cooper, Good Fruit and Vegetables.
Alltech Award: Arlie Douglas, ABC Country Hour, Toowoomba.
Peter Lewis and John Griffith at the Ekka in 2004 |
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Jane Milburn and Lee Anderson at the 2004 awards |
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Guest Speakers
RURAL PRESS CLUB guest speakers in 2009 were Geoff Hewitt and Charlie Wilson (Future Foods Qld); Keith De Lacy (former Qld treasurer); Dr Denis Blight; Gary Brinkworth (Incitec Pivot); Ken Warriner (Australian Pastoral Company); Brett Heading (former chairman AACo); John Paul Langbroek, (Leader of the Opposition); David Palmer (MLA); Noel Grant (Grant Daniel and Long); Tim Mulherin (Primary Industries Minister); Bob Hansen (PCA).
RURAL PRESS CLUB guest speakers in 2008 were: Peter Lewis (executive producer ABC Landline), Camilla Phillips (tomato grower), Hedley Thomas (Walkley Award winning journalist), Deb Bain (Farm Day), Dr Andrew Ash (CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship), Senator Bill Heffernan, Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke and LNP leader Lawrence Springborg.
RURAL PRESS CLUB guest speakers in 2007 were: David Crombie (National Farmers Federation president), Senator Ron Boswell (Queensland Senator), Gordon Davis (new AWB managing director), Ric Goodrich (Traprock woolgrower), Professor James Dale (GM researcher based at QUT), Anna Bligh (Deputy Premier of Queensland), Shane Webcke (rugby league legend and face of the Every Family Needs a Farmer Campaign), Senator Kerry O'Brien (Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry), Professor Roger Swift (UQ Gatton Campus), Timbercorp CEO Robert Hance and Courier-Mail cricket writer Robert Craddick.
Speakers in 2006 were: Peter McGauran (Minister for Agriculture. Forestry and Fisheries), Dr Len Humpreys (Australian Biodiesel Group), three north Queensland producers (Patrick Leahy, Guido Ghidella and Jim Kochi) reflect on Cyclone Larry, John Grabbe (Cubbie Station), Paul and Simon Holmes a Courts (Heytesbury Beef) at Beef 2006 in Rockhampton, Henry Palaszczuk (then Minister for Natural Resources and Water), Shaun Coffey (former head of CSIRO Livestock Industries), Don Heatley (MLA), Malcolm Turnbull (Parliamentary Secretary on water), Tom Brennan (lawyer), Robert Raftery (picture writer).
Speakers in 2005 were: Senator Barnaby Joyce, Brian Sherman (Voiceless), Mike Berwick (Mayor of Douglas Shire and the Chair of the Far North Queensland Natural Resource Management body), John Cahill (Biosecurity Australia), John Pressler (2PH Farms on citrus canker), Robert Pietsch (Wool Producers), Bernward Geier (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), John Bunker (Redlands Nursery), Kerry Herron (founder Herron Todd White) and Andrew Burst (US agricultural attache).
Speakers in 2004 were: Brett Heading (Clovely Estates), Peter Beattie, Gavin Scurr (Pinata Marketing), Steve Spencer (consultant), Senator John Cherry (Democrats), Neil Jahnke (Canadian Cattlemen’s Association), John Griffith (AustAsia), Wendy Erhart (Withcott Seedlings), Larry Acton (AgForce), Terry Morris (Sirromet Wines).
A proud history
Foundation and life member Phillip Bate looks back at the Rural Press Club's history in Queensland.
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