National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

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Major Sponsors

Supporter

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Geelong Advertiser ‘finalist’ in National Award for Excellence in Drug and Alcohol Media Reporting

Victoria’s oldest morning newspaper, The Geelong Advertiser is a finalist in the 2007 National Drug and Alcohol Award for Excellence in Drug and Alcohol Media Reporting.
Their entry consisted of a series of articles researched and published by the Geelong Advertiser over a 12-month period — demonstrating a considered approach to alcohol and drug-related issues and created a definite connection with the community. Impressively, the newspaper’s journalists delved deeper, looking at the impact of alcohol and other drugs on users and going out into the community to develop their articles.
First published on November 21, 1840, The Geelong Advertiser consisted of four pages focusing on colonial issues relevant to its local community of only 400 citizens. That tradition is alive and well today with The Geelong Advertiser providing Geelong’s local community of 320,000 with a broad range of alcohol and drug information to enhance their knowledge.
Winners will be announced in Sydney on Friday 22 June 2007 at a gala donner to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel..

“Every day of the week I see the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse on good Australians and their families. As a nation we lose about $1.2 billion and 7.5 million working days due to the effects of alcohol abuse alone. The emotional cost of drug and alcohol abuse to families includes domestic violence, suicide, depression, plus health issues such as brain, liver and heart damage. To meet the devastation brought on by drug and alcohol abuse are thousands of dedicated professionals, researchers, organisations and volunteers doing work that is world leading throughout all States of Australia. These Awards go some little way to recognizing the fantastic, innovative work they do with such passion and conviction. We applaud them,” says Wesley Noffs, Chair of the NDAA 2007 Awards.

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (major sponsor); Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (major sponsor) and NSW Health — ActNow (supporter)

“It is a great privilege to support the national alcohol and other drugs sector in celebrating the achievements of their unsung heroes, said Daryl Smeaton, CEO of the AER Foundation. As the major sponsor of these awards, AER congratulates all the winners, finalists and nominees.”

To interview the finalist please contact Sam Hunt on 02 6122 8600. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/