BENDIGO Advertiser photographer Darren Howe has been named the Rural Press Club of Victoria 2019 photographer of the year.
Announced at the Showtime Events Centre in Melbourne on Friday night, Howe scooped the pool in the photography awards, also taking out the best sports photography and best news photography categories.
Addy photographer Glenn Daniels was highly commended in the photographer of the year and received commendations in multiple categories.
In what has been an outstanding weekend for the Bendigo Advertiser team, senior sports writer Adam Bourke has also been acknowledged with the prestigious Crocmedia Country Racing Victoria Media Award.
The award recognises journalism that best captures the spirit of Victorian Country Racing, with the judges noting this year's decision was difficult because of the high standard of entries.
Bourke's piece on veteran trainer Graham Browney, his horse Big Roy, and the special relationship between the pair, was ultimately the stand-out.
Bendigo Advertiser editor Nicole Ferrie said the awards were recognition of three talented newsroom leaders who shared a passion for the Addy, its readers and the media industry.
"Darren's work is second to none,'' Ms Ferrie said.
"Darren is an outstanding photographer who brings extraordinary expertise and depth to the Bendigo Advertiser newsroom, and how we tell stories.
"Darren's pictures lift a story off the page. His work captures the mood, the moment, the story or the saga on each and every occasion.
"Through his images, Darren is able to offer the reader a perspective they may not have otherwise considered."
Ms Ferrie said Daniels continued to produce some of the Addy's most striking news, feature and sport images.
"Glenn has proven time and again that he can quickly capture an image that tells 1000 words," she said.
Country Racing Victoria's praise for Bourke's beautiful writing was much-deserved, Ms Ferrie said.
"Adam sets the bar for not only sports writers, but our entire news team,'' she said.
"He can find the human story behind the sport, and does it so well. Our newsroom is so much richer because of Adam's contribution."
Howe and Daniels have also been nominated in the 2019 News Media Awards.
The awards recognise excellence and innovation in the media industry across Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific.
The Rural Press Club of Victoria awards recognise the best journalism and photography across the state, and highlight media outlets that have inspired change in their communities.
The Bendigo Advertiser was named Media Outlet of the Year in 2017.
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