A major scoop about an IVF mix-up that led to a woman unknowingly giving birth to a stranger’s baby has won the prestigious Gold Quill at the Melbourne Press Club’s 31st Quill Awards.

The Herald Sun’s Robyn Riley revealed that the mistake occurred at the Monash IVF clinic in Brisbane and saw a woman implanted with another couple’s embryo.

The consequences of the mix-up were far reaching - Monash IVF’s chief resigned, $60m was wiped from the company’s share value and state and federal ministers launched a wide ranging overhaul of the fertility industry.

The Gold Quill - supported by the Melbourne Press Club’s principal sponsor, the University of Melbourne - is the pinnacle of each year’s awards and judged the most outstanding of the 30 category winners.

The Gold Quill judges praised the strength of the field, but singled out Riley’s exclusive for the “...  the devastating human impact of an IVF mix-up, and the reform of the fertility sector it prompted.’’ 

“This was reporting of the highest public interest, sensitively told and obtained through excellent journalism.’’

Riley’s story also won the Quill for News Report in Writing.

Beloved ABC journalist Heather Ewart received the MPC Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding career as a political reporter, overseas correspondent and more recently, presenter on a program close to her heart, Backroads.

Selina Zhang, of 9News, won the Young Journalist of The Year, sponsored by Josephine Nicholls. 

The Quill Awards are the annual celebration of excellence in Victorian journalism. This year featured a record number of entries across 30 categories, reflecting the wide range and high standard of journalism produced in Victoria during 2025. 

More than 450 guests gathered at Crown Palladium for the awards ceremony.

See the list of winners here

See photos from the 31st Quills Dinner here

For more information about our awards, visit melbournepressclub.com/awards

Enquiries:
admin@melbournepressclub.com