Winners of the Gold Coast’s Regional Media Awards, the MACCAs, were announced at a gala dinner last Saturday night.

Gold 92.5FM’s breakfast crew, Richard Bridge and Spida, took out two awards, Best Community Campaign and Best Radio Program.

ABC Coast FM’s David Lewis won Best Radio News Story and Coast FM’s Candice Marshall wonBest Radio Feature Story.

These awards combine all media in the region, with local ABC, commercial and community radio stations all eligible to enter the radio categories. The awards cover all media formats. 

The Gold Coast Bulletin’s Robyn Wuth took out the Media Award for Excellence. Judges said Robyn showed enormous courage and tenacity in her reporting on the activities of bikie gangs.

The event was held at the Surfers Paradise Marriott, where comedian MC Andrew Nason kept the mood light as 23 award categories rolled out in print, broadcast, advertising, digital and public relations.

Winner of the Neil MacKenzie Memorial Award for Best Media Personality (the Big MACCA) was Gold Coast Bulletin editor, Peter Gleeson.

The Big MACCA was named in honour of the late Neil ‘Macca’ MacKenzie, the Gold Coast’s undisputed king of PR, who passed away in 2007. Neil was heavily involved in radio, Sydney Olympics and some of the Gold Coast’s largest and most spectacular events.

Peter was nominated for the Big MACCA by Media Club members, peers and the media fraternity, many of whom highlighted Peter’s reputation for being “genuine” and “approachable”, and “a person who stands by what he believes”. He also received praise from colleagues for his professionalism and for being a great mentor to his staff.

Ten Gold Coast picked up two of the three television news categories, with Jessica Ross winning Best News Storyand Simon Hooper taking out the award for Best Television Sports Story.

WINNERS & FINALISTS MACCAS REGIONAL MEDIA AWARDS 2012