Toby McGee announced as an up-and-coming voice of regional Australia winning the 2025 JB Fairfax Award

Tasmanian local Toby McGee has today been named as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious JB Fairfax Award for Regional & Rural Journalism and Communications thanks to the RAS Foundation. 

The national award, which was created in 2008, aims to support up-and-coming journalists and communication students, like McGee, who are passionate about telling the stories of regional and rural Australia. 

A second-year Bachelor of Communication student at Monash University, McGee’s passion for regional and rural interests comes from his upbringing on a lamb and cropping farm in North Tasmania, which is run by his sixth-generation farming father and third-generation farming mother.

“My interest in rural and regional affairs was born from my upbringing on a farm in Tasmania,” McGee said. 

“From an early age, I found science, stories, and the impacts of farming fascinating, and tried to incorporate agriculture into as many school subjects as I could. For me, rural journalism combines my passions for agriculture and content production in a way that feels fulfilling.”

As part of the Award, McGee will receive a $10,000 scholarship to support his studies. He will also receive three unique internship opportunities with Australian Community Media’s rural publication, The Land, as part of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s media team at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and with national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in its Brisbane office. 

“It is a great honour to be selected as the 2025 JB Fairfax Award recipient. To be given the opportunity to engage with agriculture centric stories through The Land, the Sydney Royal Easter Show and at the ABC is invaluable. As an aspiring journalist and producer, these connections and opportunities will offer an incredible leg up when I finish my degree and start my career.”

In his final years at Monash University, McGee has also taken on the role of Senior Producer for the university’s satirical news show, The Struggle, and continues to hone his skills in his dream career. 

The award, which is now in its 17th year, was created thanks to a private donation from Mr John B Fairfax AO to identify and assist the next generation of rural journalists and communicators. 

Previous award recipients now hold positions at the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Rural, and R.M.Williams Outback Magazine. 

To learn more, please visit www.rasf.org.au 

Media Contact:

Nicola Dalby

Manager – Communications and Public Relations

P: (02) 9704 1041

M: 0434 579 906

E: ndalby@rasnsw.com.au    

About the RAS Foundation:

The RAS Foundation is a charitable foundation that encourages educational opportunities and helps build strong and sustainable rural and regional communities through a range of targeted grants and scholarships.