Despite the strains testing the news media industry across the nation, Western Plains media showed they are here to stay at the Country Press NSW (CPNSW) Awards in Dubbo on Friday 18 October.

Local newspaper editors and staff joined with representatives from around New South Wales for the association's annual conference and awards night at Dubbo RSL Club.

New members were welcomed and industry stalwarts farewelled at the event which also attracted politicians from both sides of the fence.

The awards ceremony was emceed by former Dubbo Mayor Matthew Dickerson, with a number of local publications picking up multiple accolades.

Here are the winners of this year's Country Press Awards from the Western Plains Region : 

• Journalist of the year - Sharon Bonthuys (Narromine Star) 
• Young Journalist of the Year - Lily Plass (Coonamble Times)
• Best Small Publisher - Narromine Star
• Best Sports Story - Gilgandra Weekly
• Best Technological Innovation - Cobar Weekly
• Runner-up Best Paid Newspaper - Coonamble Times
• Runner-up Best News Coverage - Coonabarabran Times
• Runner-up Best News Photo - Coonabarabran Times 

This year's judges included professional photographer Glenn Mickle, ADReview founder Lianne Richards, Communications lecturer at Charles Sturt University Victoria Erskine, and Walkley Award winner Greg McFarland.

Journalist of the Year - Sharon Bonthuys

Journalist of the Year Sharon Bonthuys stunned the judges with her passion for regional stories with her series on the Azari Far Ride following the eight-week, horseback journey of Queensland farmer Shané Steffen along the stock route from Goondiwindi to Tocumwal.

"For me, it was about acknowledging she did something fantastic as a young woman," Ms Bonthuys said. 

Ms Bonthuys' history as a children's book author is evident in her storytelling ability which captivated the judges. 

"I felt Sharon was really bringing the reader on a journey in a unique way," the judges stated in their comments on why Sharon won. 

After having seen how the absence of a community newspaper can leave locals feeling left out. 

"I think people do miss the paper when they're gone. Our goal this is to really encourage our community to know that this paper is here and support it." 

"It's really important that independent media continues and it's small papers like our own that will help keep that going." 

Best Small Publisher - Narromine Star 

The Narromine Star won Best Small Publisher for outlets under 700 copies. 

"We have a wonderful team over in Narromine who work really and it's very exciting for the whole team to be acknowledged," editor of the Narromine Star Lucie Peart said. 

The main ingredient to success Ms Peart said is passion and energy. 

"It involves a lot of hard work." 

Journalist of the Year for 2024, Sharon Bonthuys (right) with Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty

Best Sports Story - Gilgandra Weekly

Ms Peart is also editor at the Gilgandra Weekly which won the Best Sports Story of the year for Emily Middleton's piece Equity in Sport, detailing the hurdles that stand in the path of women's rugby teams in the Gilgandra community and surrounding areas. 

"This insightful, well-researched story represented a budding issue in the community and presented it as part of a broader social discussion," the judges wrote in their comments. 

Ms Middleton was last year's Young Journalist of the Year, an award which went to Lily Plass from the Coonamble Times this year. 

Young Journalist of the Year - Lily Plass

"I still think I will wake up and it will all just be a dream," Ms Plass said. 

"Working as a journalist in a rural community has been a full-on job but it is also very rewarding." 

"It's very humbling to tell the stories of community members."

Ms Plass started working at the Coonamble Times in April after completing her masters in Journalism at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. 

"I never expected to end up working in outback Australia but sometimes life takes you on a strange path and you just go with it." 

Young Journalist of the Year Lily Plass received her award from Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty. Photo Credit: Jonathan Griggs

Runner-up Best Paid Newspaper - Coonamble Times

The Coonamble Times also won runner-up Best Paid Newspaper 

"I'm very excited because it is one of the most sought-after awards," Coonamble Times editor Lee O'Connor said. 

"Every town deserves a good local newspaper so people can find out what's happening, why, who's making them happen, and how they can make them happen themselves. 

"It's an honour to be recognised alongside the Gunnedah Times because they are one of the papers that set the standard for the industry."

Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey with the Coonamble Times team, Lee O'Connor, River McCrossen, Lily Plass and Angie O'Connor

Runner-up Best News Coverage and runner-up Best News Photo - Coonabarabran Times 

The Coonabarabran Times won runner-up for Best News Photo and Best News Coverage. 

The photo that got them the win was a full-width image of 100-year-old golfer Bill Wilkin. 

Their coverage of The Voice to Parliament by Indigenous Affairs reporter Jimmy Whalan is what got them second place in Best News Coverage. 

Mr Whalan was fresh out of high school when he started working for the Coonabarabran Times and covered the contentious Voice referendum.

"Our aim was to try and explain in very general terms what the Voice to Parliament was and what it would potentially look like," Coonabarabran Times editor Kait Britton said. 

"Once the votes were done, we went back and did statistics on the voting and how our area voted in comparison to other parts of the state. 

"Jimmy did a great job in balancing all of that and remaining objective." 

On 18 October the NSW government announced a top-up of $3 million in grants for regional and rural newspapers. 

Coonabarabran Times owner Lynne Estens receiving award for Best News Coverage from Gunnedah Mayor Jamie Chaffey. Photo Credit: Jonathan Griggs

Best Technological Innovation - Cobar Weekly 

One of the newspapers that made a substantial improvement to their paper thanks to the Regional Media Fund was the Cobar Weekly. 

The outlet won Best Technical Innovation for their transition to full colour. 

"It makes our stories much more vibrant and opened a lot of doors for us.

"It's been a dream for a long time. I've been here 22 years and it's always been something in the back of our mind," Cobar Weekly editor Sharon Harland said.

Cobar Weekly Editor Sharon Harland and Editorial Assistant Leonie McCosker receiving award for Best Technological Innovation from Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty. Photo Credit: Jonathan Griggs

Grant funding helps keep regional media alive, Mrs O'Connor said. 

"We were lucky to be successful in the 1st round. The news industry is tough and it's getting tougher." 

"It's great the NSW government is recognising authentic regional and rural news."

Country Press NSW is one of the ways that regional media outlets can unite their voices and ensure that independent media keeps kicking. 

"It’s about having a collective voice," Country Press President Lucie Peart said. 

"We love to see publishers surviving."