New Stock and Land editor wins national leadership award New Stock and Land editor Tom Dawkins headed to Europe in May after winning a prestigious national award for young rural journalists. Tom, who is also an executive committee member of the Rural Press Club of Victoria, has won the Alltech Young Leaders in Rural Journalism Award, organised annually by the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ) and sponsored by global animal nutrition company, Alltech. Tom took up his appointment with the Stock and Land only this month. He was formerly editor of the Stock Journal in South Australia, where he started as markets editor in July 2006. Within 18 months he was appointed Chief of Staff; he was promoted to editor in August 2008. In accepting the award, Tom said rural journalists were charged with the important responsibility of providing information vital to farmers and their ongoing financial viability. Click here to view the media release in full. ABC journalist wins inaugural national broadcasting award ABC journalist Sarina Locke has won the inaugural Australian Star Prize for Rural Broadcasting. The Canberra-based ABC journalist took out the new award with an impressive radio documentary based around a visit to West Timor where she followed in the footsteps of her mother, Dr Russ Locke. Adelaide-based ABC Television journalist Kerry Staight won the television category with her piece, 'All in the Family', broadcast on ABC Landline on February 11, 2009. Ian Doyle from Doyle Media Services, also based in Adelaide, was given an encouragement award in the category for online video, for a piece broadcast via the S. Kidman and Co website. Finalists for the competition, which is sponsored by Rabobank, were selected by the five state-based rural press clubs which fall under the umbrella of the ACAJ. The Rural Press Club of Victoria congratulates ABC Mildura Rural Reporter Nikolai Beilharz and WIN TV's Gippsland Reporter Brooke van Nooten for being the inaugural state winners of this award. Click here to find out more about the national competition. Planning a trip overseas? Need something extra to help you open doors and make contacts? Apply for your Official IFAJ Press Card today! This official card of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists is a useful tool to help you get the information you need overseas, particularly in Europe. Rural Press Club of Victoria members are able to apply to the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists (ACAJ) to get their card. Also don't forget if you are heading overseas, the ACAJ can use its networks in the IFAJ to find contacts and background information for you. The Australian delegate to the IFAJ can even set up an email contact for you. So if you're planning a trip overseas contact ACAJ Secretary Emily Bogue on 03 5225 6450.