Australia Day Awards

Nominations for Yarra City Council’s 2010 Australia Day Awards closed on 13 November 2009.

The winners of these awards – which recognise individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the Yarra community whether through community service, or service in the fields of sport, arts and culture, environment or business and economic development – will be announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2010.

Here is some information about Yarra’s 2009 Australia Day Award Winners:

2009 Australia Day Award Winners

Citizen of the Year – Mr Akoc Manheim

Akoc has been a resident of Yarra since arriving in Australia as a refugee in 2003. As president of the Sudanese Lost Boys Association, Akoc has made a significant contribution to his local community in Fitzroy through community activities and working with groups such as the Ecumenical Migration Service. Despite his youth, Akoc has provided significant leadership within his community for the past four years.

Community Service of the Year – Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association (AVWA)

For 25 years, the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association has provided a continuous and reliable service for members of the community who are vulnerable or at risk of being marginalised. AVWA has empowered the Vietnamese community, especially women, to direct their own futures and improve the wellbeing of their own social and cultural groups. AVWA currently provides programs in employment, housing, health, drug counselling, services for the elderly, youth support services, and sports, for women and men from Vietnamese and other cultural backgrounds.

Community Event of the Year – Victoria Street Lunar New Year Festival

The Victoria Street Lunar New Year Festival represents the beginning of the Chinese New Year for Yarra residents.
The festival has been gathering momentum over the last eight years and is now recognised as one of Melbourne’s premier Lunar New Year festivals, attracting over 80,000 people to Victoria Street and the City of Yarra. This vibrant festival is organised by the Richmond Asian Business Association in partnership with the Yarra City Council. It features traditional activities, stage performances, Vietnamese Opera, community groups and organisations, lion dances, firecrackers, karaoke competitions, fashion shows and many family activities.

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Further information

Michael Ward
Community and Civic Events Officer
Telephone 9205 5086
Email Michael.Ward@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site

 

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Victoria Online

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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