University of Melbourne celebrates the 29th Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards
On Friday 15 March, the University of Melbourne celebrated the 29th Quill Awards, which are the Melbourne Press Club’s annual media awards, celebrating excellence in Victorian journalism. Members of the University community including students and academics from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the Faculty of Science and the Centre for Advancing Journalism (within the Faculty of Arts), attended the awards.
The Victorian Student of the Year was awarded to the University of Melbourne’s Sasha Gattermayr for her story, “Little club of horrors”. The Excellence in Science, Medical and Health reporting, sponsored by the University of Melbourne and presented by Professor Jane Gunn, was won by Sherryn Groch from The Age, “Journey into the deep sea”. The Gold Quill, also sponsored by the University, was won by John Ferguson, of The Australian, for his scoop about the tragic consequences of a mushroom lunch in regional Victoria. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) Professor Michael Wesley presented the Gold Quill.
In his speech, Michael Wesley said “on behalf of the University of Melbourne we are delighted to be affiliated with one of Australia’s most important events, celebrating media and the future of journalism. I congratulate all of the winners tonight, who over the last 12 months have made an outstanding contribution to journalism. The Melbourne Press Club and the University of Melbourne share similar goals. To make the world a better place and to change peoples lives each day through searching enquiry, innovation and rigorous analysis. Journalism, like universities, are a fundamental part of our society, and never moreso than now.”
John Ferguson’s acceptance speech can be viewed via this link.