BEEF Central Shines at Queensland Rural Press Club Journalism Awards

BEEF Central has made headlines by clinching two major awards at the Queensland Rural Press Club Journalism Awards. The prestigious ceremony took place in Brisbane and featured a compelling keynote address by renowned former foreign correspondent Peter Greste, who shared poignant insights from his time imprisoned in Egypt and discussed the vital importance of quality journalism.

Award Winning Entries

BEEF Central’s contributions were recognized across multiple sections, with noteworthy accomplishments in both radio and multimedia categories. The Week in Beef podcast, hosted by Lydia Burton and Eric Barker, won the Broadcast – Radio award for its final episode of the previous year titled “Top trends that defined 2025: the Goldilocks year.”

The judges commended the podcast for offering a thorough overview of Australia’s beef industry, woven together with engaging storytelling and informative discussions. They noted, “This is an extraordinary overview and analysis specifically tailored to the Australian beef industry, demonstrating unique insights that are unmatched elsewhere.”

Multimedia Recognition

Eric Barker also won accolades in the Multimedia category for his innovative reporting from Amber Station in North Queensland. His coverage showcased a new loading ramp design that implements fresh thinking to solve longstanding challenges.

The judges highlighted the significance of the story, stating, “This was excellent coverage from a remote area, addressing efficiency while also promoting animal welfare. The project’s influence on recommendations by international expert Temple Grandin further underscores its impact.”

The accompanying video on YouTube has thus far amassed over 115,000 views, highlighting its resonance with audiences.

Additional Honors

Lydia Burton received a highly commended award for her written article in May 2025 titled Mass exodus of southern cattle to Qld for greener pastures, which documented the significant movement of cattle from drought-affected New South Wales and Victoria to northern Queensland searching for better grazing conditions.

Among other awardees, Judith Maizey from Queensland Country Life took home the award for written content, while ABC Landline’s coverage of the 2025 Western Queensland floods won both the Broadcast – Television section and the coveted Overall Queensland Rural Story of the Year award. Other notable mentions included North Queensland’s Fiona Lake, who was named Photographer of the Year, while ABC’s Hannah Walsh was honored as Young Rural Journalist of the Year. Last but not least, UQ business and communications student Milly Buck received the student scholarship.

This recognition highlights BEEF Central’s commitment to excellence in agricultural journalism and showcases the platform’s pivotal role in covering significant issues affecting the beef industry.