Australia’s practical and positive guide to sustainable living, G: The Green Lifestyle Magazine, has taken out the coveted 2007 Consumer Magazine of the Year trophy only a year after launch.

At the 2007 Bell Awards in Sydney, staged annually by the magazine industry body Publishers Australia, G Magazine scooped a total of seven awards, including a highly commended certificate as Editor of the Year for G’s Sara Phillips.

The magazine’s publisher, boutique Sydney magazine house Luna Media, took out Best Consumer Magazine Launch for G Magazine, and a highly commended certificate as Best Small Publisher, both collected by CEO Kylie Ahern. A highly commended award for Advertising Salesperson of the Year was received by G Magazine’s Tatyana Kovalyov.

For the second year in a row, one of the company’s editorial interns took out the Best Newcomer to Journalism award; in 2007 the winner was Benjamin Lester, who worked G Magazine and its sister title, Cosmos, the innovative science magazine that treats science as hip and fashionable. Corey Butler, art director of both G Magazine and Cosmos, was recognised with a highly commended plaque for Graphic Designer of the Year.

“For a magazine that didn’t even exist a year ago, this is an exciting result for G Magazine,” said Wilson da Silva, editor-in-chief and co-founder of both titles. “Luna Media is only three years old, yet we already have 26 awards to our name. Our readers and advertisers already recognise the excellence we produce, so it’s very gratifying that our peers do so as well.”

“There were a lot of sceptics in the industry when we announced the launch of a positive and practical eco-living magazine just over a year ago,” said Ahern. “But both readers and advertisers have embraced G Magazine and made it success. Clearly, concern about climate change and sustainability are mainstream now. G Magazine represents the zeitgeist.”

The awards were held before an audience of 500 on November 30 and were hosted by Ita Butrose AO OBE, the seasoned publisher, journalist and media personality. It was judged by a panel of 33 independent industry specialists and academics who selected winners in 34 categories.

Publishers Australia was founded in 1964 and represents the country's magazine publishers. It has 120 publisher members who produce 500 magazines. In 2007, the Bell Magazine Awards attracted 260 entries across 34 categories.

At the previous Bell Awards, Luna Media won the 2006 Best Small Publisher trophy while Cosmos picked up the 2006 Magazine of the Year trophy. In total, Cosmos has taken out 22 awards since it was founded three years ago.

The full list of 2007 awards winners and finalists for G Magazine and Cosmos is below:

• Winner, Consumer Magazine of the Year (print run over 30,000), G Magazine
• Winner Best Consumer Magazine Launch, G Magazine, Kylie Ahern
• Winner Best Single Article, Cosmos, Elizabeth Finkel
• Winner Best Analytical Writing, Cosmos, Elizabeth Finkel
• Winner, Best Newcomer to Journalism, G Magazine and Cosmos, Benjamin Lester
• Winner Best Sales & Marketing Program, Cosmos, Kylie Ahern
• Highly Commended, Editor of the Year, G Magazine, Sara Phillips
• Highly Commended, Best Small Publisher, Cosmos and G Magazine, Kylie Ahern
• Highly Commended, Writer of the Year, Cosmos, Elizabeth Finkel
• Highly Commended, Graphic Designer of the Year, G Magazine and Cosmos, Corey Butler
• Highly Commended, Best Internet Site, Cosmos Online, John Pickrell, Anthony Willis
• Highly Commended, Advertising Salesperson of the Year, G Magazine, Tatyana Kovalyov
- Finalist, Editor of the Year, Cosmos, Tim Dean
- Finalist, Best Single Article, Cosmos, David Salt
- Finalist, Best Newcomer to Journalism, Cosmos, Jacqui Hayes
- Finalist, Best Opinion Series, Cosmos, Wilson da Silva
- Finalist, Best Subscription Newsletter, Cosmos Update, John Pickrell