This prestigious honorary award acknowledges the legacy of the ASTW’s first president, Jack Butters, and is presented to a person/s for their contribution to the ASTW in a volunteer capacity. The award was first introduced by the committee of the day following the passing of Jack in the early 2000s.
The Jack Butters will be awarded to a member/s based on one or more of the following attributes observed within the previous three years:
● Has gone above and beyond to make a significant contribution to the society in a volunteer capacity.
● Has consistently upheld the values and ethics of the ASTW.
● Has fostered a sense of community spirit and comradeship within the ASTW.
● Has willingly helped other members, e.g. through mentorship, information exchange etc.
● have been an ASTW member for at least 5 years
● not be a current board member
● be nominated by another member
● not be a previous recipient of a Jack Butters Award
● not be a life member of the ASTW.
● be a current member of the ASTW
● nominate only one member per year
● fill out a nomination form stating why they believe the nominee is a worthy Jack Butters Award recipient
● remain completely confidential regarding the nomination.
● by the current board, examining and discussing each nomination against the criteria
● by the current board, reaching a decision through discussion, or if required, a majority wins vote
● with the utmost confidentiality.
Please note: The board reserves the right to not present the Jack Butters Award in any given year.
At the ASTW Gala Dinner held on 31 October 2025, Heather Jeffery and Julia D'Orazio were awarded the Jack Butters award for their service to the ASTW.
2025 Heather Jeffery and Julia D'Orazio
2024 Kerri McConnel and Christina Pfeffer
2023 Belinda Jackson
2022 Kerry Heaney and Susan Fuller
2021 Not awarded
2020 David McGonigal
2019 Pamela Wright
2018 Peter Hook
2017 Rama Gaind
2016 Mike Smith, David McGonigal, Glenn A Baker, Laura Speirs
2013 Kay O'Sullivan
2012 Louise Southerden
2011 Malcolm Longstaff
2010 Lee Atkinson and Lee Mylne
2009 Allison Scott
2008 Mike Smith
2007 Kim McKay
2006 Christine Retschlag
2005 Ann Rickard
Originally hailing from Wales, Jack Butters was the first president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. According to Fazel Rahman’s documented history of the ‘ASTW first 20 years’, the idea of establishing a society came out of an ‘ad hoc’ meeting of Jack and 12 other travel writers at Noah’s Hotel, Canberra in 1975.
Seeing a need for a set of ethics to govern ‘responsible travel writers’ (especially as travel articles became more in demand in Australian publications), as president, Jack, was instrumental in creating a constitution for the Australian Society of Travel Writers. The first AGM was held at Tullamarine airport, Melbourne on 25 November 1976, where Jack was formally re-elected as president.
Jack’s zest for life is captured throughout Fazel Rahman’s document with several anecdotes including this pearler: ‘We can do a formal thing in a meeting room if anybody likes, but it seems to me we might as well meet up in the wilds of Lindfield and lie around on my verandah. No swimming pool however, for which I apologise.’
Following Jack’s passing in the early 2000’s, the committee of the day decided to honour this much-loved pioneer of our society by ensuring his name will live on through the acknowledgement of selfless service to the ASTW.
