The finalists for next month’s Combined Country Press NSW and Victorian Country Press Association (VCPA) awards night have been revealed, with Lleyton Hughes from The Bugle receiving nominations in two prestigious categories.

The event will take place on Friday, October 24, at the picturesque Silverwoods Resort, located on the shores of Lake Mulwala. Hughes has been nominated for Best Sports Story and Young Journalist of the Year.

This marks the second-ever collaboration between the VCPA and CPNSW, with the first occurring in 1992.

The awards night will be co-hosted by CPNSW President Lucie Peart and VCPA Chairman Jared Loughnan.

"We’re excited to celebrate the historic milestone of 125 years of Country Press NSW and to join colleagues who share our passion for the industry," said Lucie Peart, CPNSW President.

The 2025 Combined CPNSW/VCPA Conference will also feature presentations from Deakin University on the world-first Victorian government advertisement commitment.

As well as a keynote from Australia's leading investigative reporter, Nick McKenzie, an update on AI in the workplace from Google, and an engaging, interactive advertising session led by former Colac Herald creative, Josh Stevens.

This year’s Country Press NSW Awards attracted a record 227 entries from publishers across 19 categories.

The night promises to be a memorable celebration of excellence, collaboration, and the future of regional journalism.