Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane has honoured Queensland journalists and a photographer for promoting good journalism in the print media.

The archbishop’s inaugural Common Good Awards were presented at a New Farm restaurant on April 28.

Courier-Mail journalist Margaret Wenham won the Best Feature award for an article on indigenous leader Tiga Bayles.

In the Best Community Service category, The Courier-Mail picked up the award for a series of articles on aged care issues in Queensland, written by Tuck Thompson. Courier-Mail editor David Fagan was on hand to receive the award.

Rob Maccoll earned the Best Photograph award for a picture of Dili crab hunters which he took while on assignment in East Timor.

Dr Simone Peacock won the Best News Story award for her piece about the shortage of obstetricians.

Archbishop Bathersby, who presented the awards, said they were initiated not as a public relations exercise, but to genuinely acknowledge the role for good that the media can play in our often confused world.

“The media can and does contirubute to the common good of society, and ultimately to the Kingdom of God,” he said.

“That Kingdom is one of the most exciting and theological concepts imaginable.

“We can promote the Kingdom by an action as simple as a smile or kind deed, as complicated as fighting for justice and protesting about poverty in the world.

“Moreover the work of the Kingdom is resticted not merely to those who regard themselves as specifically religious people, but to all people, whether they are religious or not, of goodwill.”

The awards, each including a cash prize, were presented to mark the Church’s annual World Communication Day.

The Catholic Leader is not eligible to enter the Archbishop Bathersby Common Good Awards, but will be involved in promoting them in the lead up to the 2006 presentation.