NSW Council initiatives and projects that empower communities through excellence in communication and reporting were recognised last night (Thursday) at the Local Government Week Awards Evening in Sydney at The Deckhouse in Woolwich.

 

The RH Dougherty Awards are the highest accolade a NSW council can receive in the area of communications, with over150 councils eligible for the coveted trophies. The 2011 winners are:

 

Awards for Excellence in Communication


Division A: population less than 30,000

Winner: Kempsey Shire Council – “Meet the Boss”

Judges comments– “Meet the Boss was a unique advertising slogan designed to encourage the community to think of the General Manager as ‘your average boss in your average business’. Kempsey’s project showed a real commitment across the organisation that is to be commended. To have all at a senior level involved in face to face engagement sets the bar high for other LGA’s.”

Highly Commended: Corowa Shire Council – “Festival for Fun for Kids”


Division B: population 30,000 - 100,000

Winner: Tweed Shire Council – Engagement Campaign for Tweed Community Strategic Plan

Judges comments – “All round great project initiative, distribution method and a terrific number of people engaged. Tweed Shire used every available way to connect and include all parts of the community including kids”.

Highly Commended: Hawkesbury City Council – Hawkesbury Macquarie 2010 Celebrations

 

Division C: population over 100,000

Winner: Lake Macquarie City Council – Future of Waste

Judges comments – “The campaign was well planned, extensive and achieved long term environmentally sustainable outcomes for the community of Lake Macquarie. The depth and breadth of the advertising campaign was imperative to ensure a prompt take up of the community for the programme to be effective”.

Highly Commended: Warringah Council – Talk of the Town 2010: Warringah's Housing Future - Let's solve the puzzle

 

Division D: ROCS and County Councils

Highly Commended: Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (SHOROC) – Shaping Our Future


Awards for Reporting to your Community


Division A: population less than 30,000

Highly Commended: Broken Hill City Council - How a strategic media partnership can benefit Council and Community

Highly Commended: Moree Plains Shire Council – Moree Plains Shire Council Annual Reports 2010

 

Division B: population 30,000 - 100,000
Winner: WINNER: Hurstville City Council – Dragonfiles

Judges comments – “Something different; a great way to engage your community at a non-traditional level, done really well. Original and reasonable cost considering the standard of publication.”


Division C: population over 100,000
Winner: Blacktown City Council – 2011 Blacktown City Community Calendar

Judges comments – “The production of the calendar is a great way to communicate with the community. A wonderful way of putting the council and its events front and centre of every day”

Highly Commended: Penrith City Council – Penrith City Council Customer Contact Card


Division D: ROCS and County Councils

Highly Commended: Lockhart Shire Council - Riverina Regional Library Annual Report 2009-2010 - Lockhart Shire Council (submitting council)

 

Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution

This award acknowledges high achieving communications and events staff within councils.


Winner: Tweed Shire Council, Ms Tiffany Stodart

Judges comments – “Tiffany's achievements in developing and implementing a range of strategies has helped to cement the 'Tweed Shire' brand, not only within her community but within the industry. Tiffany utilises a range of traditional methods and new technologies to actively promote the organisations. She is an extraordinary employee, the body of work is excellent and the fact that other people are interested in listening to her speak on ‘how to do things’ is a credit to her.”

 

The LG Week Awards are managed by the LGSA and are judged by leading experts in the communications field. For more information, visit www.lgweek.lgsa.org.au.

 

Other Awards presented last night include Local Government Procurement’s Robert Wilson OAM Award, the Office of Communities’ National Youth Week 2011 Awards, the Heart Foundation’s Healthy Community Awards, and the Cancer Council’s Alive and Well Partnership Awards.