By David Halliday, editor, Eureka Street
Each morning at Eureka Street, we wake up and we try to put work out into the world that will hopefully further the wider conversation in productive ways. The work we do is absorbing, engaging and, dare I say it, fun. And it goes without saying?—?seeing that labour of love be both embraced and lauded is immensely humbling and gratifying. A shot of dopamine and humility in one.
Recently, at the Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) awards in Perth, Eureka Street was well represented across categories. Highly commended was Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ for his headline ‘Bull in the China shop’ and Sarah Klenbort’s ‘Reassessing assessments in an era of anxiety’ for best education coverage, unravelling the dichotomy of heightened assessments and dwindling learning in Australian schools.
Eureka Street clinched top spot for best social justice content, with Michael McGirr’s long essay on the Spirit of the Way. It’s a beautiful and moving piece of writing from Michael, who has a reputation in Australian literature for these tender considerations of humanity that are philosophically sophisticated while exuding a generosity of spirit and charity. Eureka Street also won in the category of best original artwork with Glen Le Lievre’s cheeky yet masterful cartoon ‘It’s not easy being green.’ Glen’s work is world class and much deserving of the award.
Such moments serve as a reminder: if you’re involved in a journalistic enterprise that you trust and believe in and the only ceiling on your work is your caffeine limit, then you’re very lucky. But it’s also a reminder that the true strength of Eureka Street doesn’t lie in accolades, but in its ethos and its contributors. Journalism is a conversation between the storyteller and audience, and any publication is only ever as vibrant as the voices of the artists, intellects and wordsmiths giving it texture.
Eureka Street was founded in 1991 by those who believed that the Church, particularly the Jesuit tradition, had something to bring to public debate. And three decades on, Eureka Street has not just argued over matters of importance to Australians; we’ve endeavoured to craft thoughtful reflections on today’s ethical riddles, focusing not necessarily on the grand, sweeping issues of our times, but on the stories affecting people on the margins. Dive into our archives and you’ll find our pages resonating with challenging questions around politics, culture and faith in this country.
Every piece we publish reiterates our belief in this broad community of talented individuals. We’ve often found ourselves rattling cages, not for the thrill of it, but to make our readers pause, reflect and perhaps see an issue with fresh eyes.
Their insights, their unwavering zest for genuine discourse and robust argument, as well as their allegiance to authenticity, all mould, stretch and propel us forward. In gratitude, we look ahead, bolstered by the talents of our gifted ensemble and our readers who, like trusted friends, walk with us.
In addition to Eureka Street’s awards, Jesuit Communications was also delighted with Madonna’s Highly Commended for Best Front Cover for its Spring 2022 edition, as well as Michael McGirr’s win for Best Column/Blog for his regular contributions to Australian Catholics. Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ was also recognised with an ACPA life membership for his contributions to Catholic media.
