COMMUNITY Newspaper Group produced three winners at the 2012 Community Newspapers of Australia Awards for Excellence.
The Southern Division winners were announced in Melbourne at the weekend.
Photographer Matthew Poon won the best news pic category for his image of a handcuffed Robert Bropho at his daughter
Karri's funeral (see above).
North Coast Times won best newspaper (less than 30,000 circ).
The judges said: "it has a stylish, open layout, strong editorial and excellent ad support. It had an ‘X factor’ that the other papers lacked."
Western Suburbs Weekly won best newspaper (between 30,000 and 50,000 circ).
The judges said: "The winner is a gutsy, well designed, outstanding newspaper. It is a creative, forceful and an authoritative newspaper. The use of quality photography and thoughtful journalism enables the real issues of to be exposed."