Patron’s Award History
Each year, winners of the Age Concern New Zealand Patron's Award are announced as part of International Day of Older Persons celebrations.
2010 Awards
In 2010, three awards were given for the best media portrayals of ageing and older people.
Last year's Patron's Award winner profiles lifeguard Bill Goodwin. The story, "Bill still on guard at Whiritoa" came from the Waikato Times, writer Nicola Brennan, photo by Donna Walsh.
Second prize went to "Never too old" from Sunday magazine, writer Gary Steel, with photos by Quinn O'Connell.
A New Zealand Women's Weekly story on karate black belt Rosemary Braithwaite took third place.
The winning entries were selected by popular vote from a pool of five finalists.
"Our Patron's Award encourages media depictions of older people that challenge negative attitudes," Age Concern's Patron, Judge Ken Mason, told the award audience.
"Lack of respect for older people in our society shows through in negative media images which, in turn, reinforce them.
"This lack adds to many of the hurts older people receive and sometimes can even be the cause of them.
In his speech, Judge Ken Mason issued a challenge to the media," to get the truth about ageing out there: that older people are vital and diverse, they make a contribution, they have rights, and they deserve respect."
> VIEW a round-up of other Age Concern Awareness Week and IDOP activities
Finalists
In alphabetical order, the five finalist entries were:
"Bill still on guard at Whiritoa" from the Waikato Times, writer Nicola Brennan, Photo by Donna Walsh.
"Bored at 69? Not if there's this to do" from the Bay of Plenty Times, writer Kiri Gillespie, Photo by John Borren.
> VIEW this story at the Bay of Plenty Times
"Dorne to be wild" from the New Zealand Women's Weekly, writer Elizabeth Light, Photos by Ross Brown.
> VIEW a PDF of this story [small file 0.1MB]
"Gutsy grandma gets her kicks" also from the New Zealand Women's Weekly
> VIEW this story at the Women's Weekly
"Never too old" cover and stories from Fairfax's Sunday magazine, writer Gary Steel, Photos by Quinn O'Connell.
Our challenge to the media
Positive attitudes breed positive behaviour, and the media has the power to change attitudes about older people and ageing. We're wanting to identify and reward media work which fosters positive attitudes about older people. Items that–
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Challenge stereotypes about older people
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Aren't just about people because they're old. The focus should be on the person and their achievements or challenges, not their age
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Encourage new ways of looking at older people and ageing: many items celebrate the past with reports of wedding anniversaries, retirements or reminiscences. Winning items are more likely to be forward-focused.
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Respect people's dignity.
2009 Awards
The winners of the 2009 Patron's Award for the media were announced at a lunchtime function in Wellington on 1 October to mark the International Day of Older Persons.
Fairfax Community Newspapers writer Scott Morgan and photographer Jason Oxenham won the "Best Reporting" class for their entry "Daring trio head off to Mongolia".
The Best Advertising Patron's Award was won by Nintendo Australasia for their Nintendo DSi advertising campaign "More functions, more fun".
Dominion Post writer Tanya Katterns and photographer Andrew Gorrie took the Best Reporting Runner-up Patron's Award for their profile of school volunteer Bob Bargh.
Five finalists were chosen last month by Age Concern's Patron Judge Ken Mason and his panel of judges, and then narrowed down to three placegetters.
Media and government representatives were told, "Go out, start looking and start questioning. If you're in the media please ask yourself 'am I really reflecting today's older people. Is this how they look; is this how they really are?'"
The winning entries were selected from five finalists.
- "Daring trio head off to Mongolia" profiles three North Shore men participating in a charity rally to Mongolia. North Shore Times; writer Scott Morgan, photo Jason Oxenham. > DOWNLOAD [Pdf file 190KB]
Check their progress here [opens the Mongolian Charity website]. - "Hard work pays off for couple" profiles migrant gardeners Chengru Pang and Daxiong Lu. North Shore Times; writer Lucy Vickers, photo Ben Watson. > READ [Opens excerpts from North Shore Times story in a new window]
- "How will you spend your gas and electricity discount?" shows seniors enjoying their savings romantically. Dual Energy campaign, produced by Saatchi & Saatchi for Contact Energy; photo Mike Heydon, Jet Photography. > DOWNLOAD [Pdf file 300KB]
- "More functions, more fun" shows an older woman using a Nintendo DSi console in advertising produced for Nintendo Australasia. > DOWNLOAD [Pdf file 120KB]
- "Never too old to lend a hand" profiles school volunteer Bob Bargh. Dominion Post writer Tanya Katterns; photo Andrew Gorrie. > READ [Opens Dominion Post in a new window]
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