News of a $31,000 quote to transport a new garbage truck to Weipa raised more than eyebrows during the Cape York Weekly’s award-winning coverage of the crippling freight plight. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
The Cape York Weekly’s focus on crippling freight costs and their impact on communities across the region has won wide acclaim at a prestigious state journalism awards ceremony on the Gold Coast.
Judges awarded the CYW runner-up in the Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism during the 2025 Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference from 20-22 October.
Award organisers highlighted the work of journalist Chisa Hasegawa and former editor Lyndon Keane for their “determined and continued coverage of the freight costs hurting communities and businesses across their patch”.
The Cape York Weekly has shone its focus on the issue for more than a year with a series of news stories, photos and editorial comments to highlight the importance to readers and hit home the issue in State Parliament.
Business leaders, politicians and community members have all been given a voice and promptly weighed in on the freight plight and potential alternatives.
Coverage included the region’s letter to Premier David Crisafulli after an eye-watering $31,000 quote to transport a new garbage truck to Weipa.
The Cape York ’s accompanying editorial was scathing – but fitting.
“The missive Western Cape Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) president Jai Christie penned to Premier David Crisafulli late last week should be a grenade under the apathetic posteriors of our elected leaders in Brisbane and Canberra because it articulates perfectly what everyone who lives on Cape York or in the Torres Strait has been screaming for so long,” the editorial on 25 March 2025 read.
“The message is clear: we have zero chance of remote economic and social sustainability if we can’t get a helping hand to get the things we need to work and play here actually up here without breaking the bank.”
The LGAQ established the Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award for Excellence in Regional Journalism to honour ABC cameraman John Bean, journalist Paul Lockyer and chopper pilot Gary Ticehurst, who died in a helicopter crash while on assignment in 2011.
“The Bean Lockyer Ticehurst Award has again drawn high-calibre entries covering issues of critical importance to communities – everything from natural disasters to insurance, to a forensic look at why a major dam needs to be rebuilt to a history of the iconic Mount Isa Rodeo – and from media organisations of all sizes,” LGAQ chief executive officer Alison Smith said.
“Judging criteria includes newsworthiness, incisiveness, public benefit and impact on the understanding of the issues and challenges facing regional Queensland and this year’s entries again show how important is the doggedness and professionalism for which John, Paul and Gary were renowned.”
