Writers note award benefits

By Jim Mynard
WINNERS of the four Herb Thomas Awards granted on Tuesday, 12 June have highlighted the benefit of winning the award.
Chisholm Institute nominee Michael de Valle said he considered winning the award a great honour.
He thanked the trust and supporters and said he had changed his career path from nursing to writing and had enjoyed success because of his teachers at Chisholm.
He said he would use the award money to help with further research.
RMIT University International nominee Paul Collins said he wanted to thank all involved in the trust, his employer and teachers.
He said he would use the money toward further development of his pre-press skills.
Paul Collins has also been nominated for an apprentice of the year award.
RMIT University of Applied Communication nominee Bo Hill said the trust award was a wonderful recognition of journalism. “It is a wonderful endorsement for someone.”
She said the money would help her pursue Japanese language studies and to learn more about politics in the Asia-Pacific region.
Monash University Berwick nominee Sarah Gorman said people who worked for the trust were providing something very worthwhile.
Ms Gorman said she always held an interest in writing so enrolled at Chisholm, which she found extremely rewarding.
“Teachers encouraged me to follow what I wanted to do.
“I would like to work in the magazine industry, something this award will help me achieve.
“I thank everyone for providing that opportunity for me,” she said.
Star News Group director Ian Thomas commended the high standard of the award winners and said he always felt privileged to be involved in judging the Herb Thomas Awards.
He said nominees to the award displayed enormous enthusiasm toward their careers.
He said more than 80 people in the industry had received a Herb Thomas award and that it would be interesting to hear how those people were now getting along.
“I congratulate this year’s recipients and wish them the best for their future.”
Herb Thomas Memorial Trust chairman Roger Hall said the Rotary Clubs of Berwick, Narre Warren and Pakenham established the Herb Thomas Memorial Trust in 1979 in conjunction with the City of Berwick and the Shire of Pakenham to perpetuate the memory of the late Herb Thomas.
Mr Thomas was proprietor and editor of the Pakenham Gazette.
Mr Hall said grants were presented each year to students, apprentices, graduates, writers and others pursuing a career in the print media and the printing and publishing industry.
“The grants are intended to encourage and assist the recipients in furthering their vocations,” he said.