Mandurah Mail journalist Tex Reeks has taken out a prestigious award at the 2018 News Media Works (PANPA) Gala Awards Night for excellence in photography.
At just 18-years-old, the local talent claimed top gong in the Community News Photography section for his piece titled Under The Spotlight.
According to organisers, Reeks is the youngest ever PANPA award winner in this category.
Reeks took his nominated photo during a late-night police incident in Mandurah, which saw two women face court over assault charges.
The image depicted an officer shining a spotlight on a woman sitting in the back of a police van with her face in her hands.
Accepting the award at the official ceremony at the Sydney Hilton on September 14, Reeks thanked the Mandurah team for their support.
Id just like to thank the team at the Mandurah Mail and Fairfax, especially editor Gareth McKnight and previous editor Nathan Hondros as well as my mentor Caitlyn Rintoul, Reeks said.
Reeks has been with the Mandurah Mail since March 2018 and in that time has photographed politicians, serious emergencies, community fundraisers and local sporting games.
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Reeks has also started his own freelance media service, Skeer Media.
Skeer Media covers breaking news and other events in the Peel region and its surrounding area, and often provides content for major television stations and local print and online media.
Since being handed a camera by his father at a young age, and witnessing a live TV cross at 10-years-old, Reeks has been passionate about the news.
A video filmed by Reeks first made the news when he was just 13-years-old.
Fairfax Media picked up a swag of awards and highly-commended acknowledgments at the event.
This isnt the first time a Mandurah Mail journalist has impressed at the national awards, with Marta Pascual Juanola claiming top honours for her sports photography in 2017 and a highly-commended acknowledgment in 2016.
Its been a busy month for the Mails reporters with journalists Caitlyn Rintoul and Carla Hildebrandt also named finalists in prestigious awards.
Rintoul was named as a finalist at the NewsMediaAwards for a photograph taken of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a recent trip to Lakelands titled Poker face: WAs GST cash top-up.
Meanwhile, Hildebrandt was named as a finalist for the Kennedy Awards Chris Watson Award for Outstanding Regional Newspaper Reporting.
