Victoria celebrates seniors

The 12 winners in the 2012 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards have been announced, as Victoria’s 30th annual celebration of the contribution of seniors kicks off.

Above: The winners of the 2012 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.

68-year-old Patricia Hill, from Sunbury, has been named 2012 Victorian Senior of the Year for her work helping young people avoid the perils of drugs and alcohol.

Victorian premier Ted Baillieu presented Ms Hill with the main award, alongside 11 other Victorians recognised in other Senior of the Year Awards categories, at a ceremony today in Melbourne.

Ms Hill established the Sunbury Street Surfer Bus, better known as ‘Pat’s Bus’, a mobile youth centre aimed at reducing alcohol and drug abuse by engaging young people and combating boredom.

She also leads the Parent Drug Information and Support organisation in Sunbury, a group she established for parents of children suffering from substance abuse. She also works with teachers, police and doctors in her fight against drugs.

“Patricia has worked tirelessly nights and weekends for many years, helping vulnerable young people struggling with a drug addiction,” Mr Baillieu said. “Motivated by the experience of drug addiction within her own family, Patricia has provided a lifeline for many at-risk teenagers in Victoria.”

Ms Hill has also supported senior ex-residents of Caloola, the former Sunbury Mental Hospital, housing them in her home and encouraging them to develop skills needed for life outside the institution.

The Healthy and Active Living Award was won by 73-year-old Doug McIver, described as “a caring and compassionate man who has contributed enormously to the Kyneton community”.

Mr McIver is a volunteer advocate for families with mental health issues, provides counselling and pastoral care to those in need, and is involved in a range of sports, exercise, educational and artistic pursuits.

Merle Mitchell, 78, of Springvale won the Promotion of Multiculturalism Award and Koyunga local Desmond L’Huillier, 80, was presented with the Veteran Community Award.

The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards were established more than 20 years ago to promote the achievements of senior Victorians and highlight the benefits of healthy and active ageing.

Above: Valerie Lyons, CEO of Villa Maria, presents Caleb Hounihan with first prize in the intergenerational film contest.

The awards lead into the 2012 Victorian Seniors Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year through more than 1,000 events being held throughout October.

Another event that opened the Vic Seniors Festival featured the budding school-age directors who made the finals of a short film competition called Be Inspired! Intergenerational conversations through film.

First prize went to Caleb Hounihan for his film Changi – The Story of Ron Gibson, which won $2,000 for his school, Hawthorn Secondary College. In the film, Mr Gibson tells of his personal experiences of being a prisoner of war in Singapore’s notorious Changi Prison during World War Two.

Second prize went to three Footscray Secondary College Year 7 students, Keanu Condon-Anderson, Mario Laughlin and Shaemus Corcoran, whose school will receive $1,000 for their film Insights from Ann. It depicts Ann Holmes sharing memories of her time in the British Royal Artillery during WWII, aged 17-and-a-half.

Third prize, including $500 for their school, was won by Parade College students Daniel Ivanov and Kristofer Missailidis. Kristofer and Daniel undertook the project through a community program with BlueCross, and used Phil Snowden as their inspiration because of his “great attitude to life”.

As part of the festival, free public transport is available to Victorian Seniors Card holders until 14 October.

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