Canberra Times artist Pat Campbell has taken out a Walkley award for his cartoon drawn in response to the Christchurch massacre.
The cartoon, titled Christchurch Fern, shows 50 Muslims in various stages of prayers, representing the 50 victims of the mosque shooting on March 15, in the shape of a silver fern.
The cartoonist was awarded the prize at a gala ceremony held in Sydney on Thursday night.
Mr Campbell told The Canberra Times earlier this year after the cartoon went viral on social media that the image came to him easily after he heard of news of the massacre.
"I know the silver fern is an important symbol for New Zealand. Then my mind turned to the image itself, and how the leaves of the fern resembled figures," he said.
"It was a short jump to envisage victims represented, and it grew to Muslims in stages of prayer."
After the death toll from the massacre rose to 51 in May, Mr Campbell said he intended to add another figure to the cartoon before the anniversary of the shooting next year.
The cartoon was seen around the world in the wake of the tragedy, with the artist receiving messages from Canada, Egypt and Malaysia.
"I'm pleased it is providing solace to people around the world. I'm happy to step back from it and let it have a life of its own," Mr Campbell said in March.
Thursday's Walkley win was not the first time the cartoonist has won Australian journalism's highest honour.
In 2013, he won a Walkley artwork award for his cartoon Glimmer of Hope, depicting a beleaguered Julia Gillard near the end of her prime ministership.
Australian Community Media journalists were also honoured at the ceremony.
Newcastle Herald reporters Donna Page and Nick Bielby took out the award for best coverage of regional affairs for their series on toxic firefighting foam and cancer-causing chemicals at Maitland company TrueGain.
The full list of winners can be found here.
