MACA Media Awards 2019

Winners announced

Winners for the 2019 MACA Media Awards were announced at a ceremony in Sydney on Thursday 17 October.

Winners are highlighted in the below list of finalists.

We received over 140 nominations in 2019 – a record for the MACA Awards. The stories reveal the extraordinary breadth and vitality of seniors’ lives, encompassing work, travel, health, Indigenous issues, recreation and countless other pursuits and achievements.

Winner – Gold MACA

Congratulations to Heather Ewart for taking out the Gold MACA Award.

The Gold MACA is presented to an individual whose use of media has made a notable contribution to the realistic portrayal of older people and the development of a community in which older people are valued and respected.

Watch Heather’s acceptance speech.

2019 winners and finalists

Advertising

WINNING ENTRY: DIY (BMF and Revolver/Will O’Rourke)

This short film, directed by The Glue Society, presents a portrait of a man named Colin Taylor, who tells his incredible life story that involves the building of four houses, a yacht and an aeroplane – that he learned to pilot.

Finalists:

• Possibilities (Apia Australia). This advertisement takes a look at the possibilities that ageing opens up.
• Fearless (Feros Care). Fearless is a collection of nine short films showcasing the surprisingly bold lives of seniors.

News

WINNING ENTRY: Indigenous ranger's quest to preserve Simpson Desert knowledge (ABC Sunshine Coast)

Bruce Atkinson profiles Aboriginal elder Don Rowlands, who is working to preserve the 60,000-year-old culture and history of his people.

Finalists:

• You might not want to think about older people having sex but they deserve a place in our pop culture (the Guardian). Nayuka Gorrie explores how television and film can shift society’s expectations about older people.
• ‘We are damning ourselves’: Big problem with the way Australia treats its elderly population (News.com.au). Eleni Hale looks into Australia’s treatment of older people following the Royal Commission into Aged Care.

Health and Lifestyle

WINNING ENTRY: Baby Boomers Guide to Life in the 21st Century (Radio Skid Row)

Producers Jeff Furolo, Raul Hernandez and Lex Marinos discuss themes relating to ageing in Australia as part of a 13-episode healthy ageing project.

Finalists:

• Age no barrier to creativity (Studio 10). Featuring Eileen Kramer, a dancer and choreographer who is proving age is no barrier to creativity.
• Young @ Heart (Sutherland Shire Council). Featuring inspiring stories from 15 ‘Young @ Heart’ Sutherland Shire residents.

Current affairs

WINNING ENTRY: This 90-year-old may be the oldest paperboy in Australia (ABC 7.30)

90-year-old Kevin Naughton delivers newspapers in the town of Crookwell, braving freezing early mornings to keep his community in the loop.

Finalists:

• Madam Carmel (Channel 10 The Project). She’s 80 years old, twice widowed and is the madam at Australia’s oldest brothel – meet Madam Carmel.
• The incredible life story of Melbourne’s ‘piano lady’ (SBS The Feed). For over a decade, piano virtuoso Natalie Trayling has been stopping people in their tracks on the streets of Melbourne.

Image

WINNING ENTRY: Australian grandmother of maths (ABC)

Photograph by Lauren Day.

Finalists:

• “Eileen”. Photograph by Karl Swerdtfeger.
• Don Rowlands (ABC). Photograph by Bruce Atkinson.

2019 MACA highlights

Watch interviews with winners and see highlights from the 2019 MACA Media Awards.

Video

Photos

Old News

Stereotypes undervaluing seniors are everywhere in media – and these three have had enough.

In the lead-up to the 2019 MACA Media Awards, Stephen, Kathryn and Wendy turn up the heat on ageist stereotypes and tackle dodgy reporting about seniors.