Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards
The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards is presented annually as part of the Victorian Seniors Festival. These significant awards recognise the volunteer work and contributions to the community life of older Victorians. It is a chance to say thank you, and to celebrate the many senior Victorians who have given and shared their skills, experience, time, and energy with our state.
Watch a video of some of the 2022 Awardees.
This year’s awardees include:
- Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year – Moira Waye from Pyalong
- Promotion of Multiculturalism Award – Marie Pietersz from Camberwell
- Healthy and Active Living Award – Diana Collier from North Bendigo
- Ageing Well Award – Fr Bob Maguire from Albert Park
- COTA (Council on the Ageing) Victoria Senior Achiever Awards
- Walter (Ross) Synot from Newtown
- Mick Simpson from Kyabram
- Beth Benhow from North Bendigo
- Melba Waugh from Hoppers Crossing
- Jagdish Chander from Tarneit
- Heather Flemming from Willaura
- Les Chitts from Melton
- Helen Gordon from Mornington
- Marlene (Dawn) Austin from Kaniva
- Santhana Ledchumy Selvendra from Taylors Lakes
- Nazzarino (Rino) Minniti from Epping
- Anne Schmidli from Boole Poole
- Aunty Daphne Milward from Ringwood East
A spotlight on Moira Waye, aged 82, from Pyalong
Recipient of the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year
Moira has dedicated her time and energy to the Pyalong Neighbourhood House for 15 years, tirelessly supporting a range of programs, events and fundraising activities. As President of the Pyalong Neighbourhood House Committee, alongside her husband David who is Secretary, Moira has supported the organisation to grow and evolve to provide vital assistance for the local community and beyond. Moira and the committee led the creation of a local op shop in Pyalong, providing clothing and goods at affordable prices for local residents and employing three local women part-time.
Moira and the committee have organised an incredible amount of food packages and fodder for farmers affected by drought in northern Victoria and southern NSW, thanks to generous local donations. The packs include heartfelt letters of encou ragement written by volunteers, and letters of reply have poured back in from grateful farming families. Pyalong Neighbourhood House now have their sights set on establishing a local foodbank. Now in her 80s, Moira continues to volunteer up to five days a week, sharing her kindness and enthusiasm to make a difference in the lives of others.
Other COTA Senior Achiever Award winners
- Mrs Anne Tudor, 2021
- Ms Margaret Young, 2019
- Mr Hamish Russell, 2018
- Roy Francis, 2017
- Gwen Smith, 2016