In 1996 I won the Brian White Award for Excellence in Radio Journalism. I shared the Award with Derryn Hinch.
But that Award still sits in a draw in my bedroom, as I have never felt a right to display it proudly on the mantle piece.
Thirty-five people were gunned down by lone gunman Martin Bryant on April 28 in what was Australia’s worst mass shooting, 40 minutes from my home in Hobart.
All of the journalists in Tasmania literally worked around the clock, constantly updating the local community as well as interstate and overseas radio stations.
As we worked we couldn’t believe this was happening in Tasmania. It shattered our psyche.
We no longer felt safe.
What still bothers me today is: What then made me, as a journalist ,compile all ‘the best bits’ of my work and enter it into a competition?
There were no ‘best bits’ from that day or the ensuing days and I have always felt guilty for winning that award and even titling the entry “Port Arthur Massacre” – it was a tragedy and somehow I felt like I was gaining leverage from it.
Today in my, then, home town the tragedy is being remembered.
On Heart 107.3 Tasmania Police Association President Pat Allen spoke with Dave and Kylie in what he says will be the last interview he does on the topic, such is the effect that tragedy had on us as Tasmanians.
And the journalists…it was a tough event to report on and we ALL did it well.
If I had my time again, out of respect, I would never have entered my efforts in a competition.
Kim Napier (formerly Geale)
Don't be too hard on yourself, Kim. We all needed to understand the terrible events of that day and what some of us were capable of - the worst and the best. I'm sure entering the program in the competition was meant with the best of intentions, though there was a risk that, had it not won, there might be some small chance the tragedy itself might be belittled. I did similar kind of things as a radio journalist (albeit not entering my end-of-year highlights/lowlights wrap into a competition) and while some of those involved in the events were hurt by hearing the reports repeated, the community in general felt they benefitted by thinking again about the events and their meanings. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."