Our best to learn from world
Assistant editor at The West Australian Ben Martin has been awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study public interest journalism.
Martin is one of 109 recipients, including 13 from WA, of the prestigious 50th anniversary fellowships awarded by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
He ran Seven West Media’s Pledge For Nate anti-drink-driving campaign after eight-month-old Nate Dunbar was killed when a drunk driver crashed into his bedroom in 2013.
Martin will use the fellowship to travel to the US, Britain and Europe to examine successful public awareness campaigns.
“The response we got to Pledge For Nate was outstanding, but I want to better understand public campaigning and journalism’s role in improving communities,” Martin said.
Nate’s mother Stacy Dunbar — WA’s Local Hero of the Year — said the campaign had made WA roads safer.
“What was most definitely helpful for us with our healing was knowing that a skerrick of good has come from this, with the Pledge For Nate campaign spreading the message to stop drink-driving,” Mrs Dunbar said.
The trust’s chief executive, Paul Tys, said the 13 WA recipients were chosen because their proposals could benefit the wider community.
They would learn alongside world leaders in areas including the arts, health, medicine, and community and public service.
Senior firefighter Greg Henry knows first-hand about tackling blazes in multi-storey buildings and will use his fellowship to learn more about high-rise firefighting tactics and procedures from experts in countries including Sweden and Singapore.
“It’s important to see the world’s best practice, compare ourselves and see where we can make improvements if necessary,” Dr Henry said.
Now in its fifth year, Plastic Free July is an example of “thinking globally and acting locally”, according to campaign founder Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, who will visit Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the US and Britain as part of her fellowship.
Ms Prince-Ruiz, who works in waste education in local government, launched Plastic Free July after becoming concerned about the amount of single-use plastic. Her campaign is now supported by 20,000 people from 70 countries.
WA Football Commission participation manager Troy Kirkham is passionate about keeping kids in community sport and will learn from experts in Canada, the US and Britain.
“All sports are battling to get kids off the couch, away from screens and into the outdoors,” Mr Kirkham said.
“I hope to bring back to Perth strategies and programs that could be implemented across the State as a way of engaging youth and encouraging them to stay in sport, which not only keeps them fit and healthy but also teaches them important life skills.”
