The award is open to all Fairfax Regional Media cadet journalists in NSW and Queensland and is a memorial to the late Pat Riggs, the Walkely-award winning former editor of the Macleay Argus at Kempsey.

The award is given each year to a cadet who demonstrates outstanding journalistic skills as well as strong relationships within the local community.

Winning the award tops off a great start to Blake’s journalistic career. Blake came to the Magnet almost fresh out of the University of Wollongong, where he graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Journalism.

After graduating, he worked for a period with Tynan Motors and St George Illawarra Dragons in communications, marketing and social media.

These experiences enabled Blake to grow and mature his considerable talent for producing online content, and engaging audiences on social media.

Blake’s talent for journalism has already been recognised.

He was awarded the 2012 Australian Press Council Prize (based on University of Wollongong coursework in 2012) and more recently, the 2014 Illawarra Mercury Journalism Prize (based on University of Wollongong coursework in 2013).

Blake was a city boy from Mt Annan before upping sticks and relocating to Eden on the NSW Far South Coast in February, 2014.

He says his uni mates joked about the types of stories Blake would get to cover in a town with a population of just 3000.

Now Blake has bragging rights, having jumped in feet first and shown a preparedness to cover anything and everything from crime to tragedies, community news, sport and CWA bake-offs.

His willingness to literally get his feet wet, has won over many in a community not known for accepting newcomers readily.

That community acceptance has opened doors, bringing many more great stories to the Magnet’s readership in print and online.

“Awards are nice to win, but not something that you expect,” Blake said.

“Thinking about it, Eden’s won the award not me, in a way.

“It’s the stories and people in this town that have been willing to share those stories - they are the reasons why I have been able to achieve what I have,” Blake said.

Blake was presented with his trophy and a cheque for $1500 by Kempsey-based Terry Hunter OAM, who has been involved with the award since its beginning in 1999.

Mr Hunter said Blake’s nomination was impressive.

“Blake’s willingness to get out there and engage in the Eden community came through loud and clear in the nomination submitted by his editor,” Mr Hunter said.

“He is a very deserving winner.”

Blake’s win is a bittersweet one for the Magnet.

Blake is leaving soon to take up a reporter position with Fairfax Media New Zealand at The Southland Times, mainly based in Invercargill.

“I will mostly miss the people of Eden and the location – just the fact that we are surrounded by so much natural beauty – that’s not something I’ve ever come across before and probably never will again,” he said.

“I really feel, in the last couple of months in particular, that this town has accepted me.

“It’s a shame to leave at a time when I’ve made those inroads but it’s a good career move for me and not one I can pass up.”