Warrnambool senior Phyllis Vaughan has been honoured with a ‘Senior Achiever Award’ at a special ceremony at Government House to mark the 2009 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.
Mrs Vaughan was presented with the award by Minister for Senior Victorians, Lisa Neville, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Warrnambool community.
Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP said, “Mrs Vaughan is a tireless volunteer and the driving force behind many Warrnambool community groups and projects including the local Red Cross shop, the Warrnambool Agricultural Show and the St John’s Bowls Club.
“She is an inspiration to the Warrnambool community and to seniors across Victoria”, Ms Tierney said.
Mrs Vaughan was one of 12 Victorian seniors recognised at the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards ceremony which marks the lead up to the annual Victorian Seniors Festival.
Seventy-four-year-old Elizabeth Walpole from Whorouly was this year’s recipient of the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for her contribution to the communities of Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Whorouly, and the Timor Leste community of Lacluta.
Ex-CFA volunteer, avid cyclist and founder of the Portarlington Pedal Group, Graham Gibson won the ‘Go for your life’ award for best personifying the key messages of the ‘Go for your life’ campaign: healthy eating, regular physical activity, and contributing to a healthy and active community.
Eight other Victorian seniors received a ‘Senior Achiever Award’ from Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria President, Janet Wood.
Ms Tierney said, “These awards are about celebrating the achievements of seniors and giving Victorians the chance to say thank you to inspirational older people in their community.”
She added the awards were more than just about recognising the achievement of exceptional individuals.
“At a broader level they are about encouraging and supporting seniors to live life to the fullest.
“Today’s award winners are exceptional role models. I hope they will inspire other seniors to continue to be active, to take on new challenges and to engage with the people around them”, Ms Tierney said.
For more information about the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards or the Victorian Seniors Festival visit the Office of Senior Victorians website: www.seniors.vic.gov.au