Ten incredible older Victorians were today honoured with the COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Award as part of the larger 2024 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards program.
The ten deserving COTA Victoria Senior Achievers for 2024 are:
- Adelina Vanderzee, 62
- Alan Moor, 78
- Helen Willison, 72
- Jack Cooper, 94
- Janet Clark, 61
- John Dowdle, 80
- Ken Briscoe, 74
- Mary McBride OAM, 73
- Mel Boak, 76
- Peter Cribb, 79
“This year, and every year, COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria are delighted to work with the Victorian Government to honour those who’ve made significant contributions to local communities all throughout the state,” said COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria CEO, Ben Rogers.
“The ten new recipients of the COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Award have each shown demonstrable selflessness, compassion, and dedication.
“We applaud them for their unique contributions in areas all throughout the state, and take pride that awardees range from 62- to 94-years-old,” Mr Rogers continued. “They prove that every Victorian, at every age, can make meaningful, lasting contributions to society.”
Additionally, the following Victorians were also awarded honours at today’s ceremony, as presided by the Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria, His Excellency the Honourable Professor James Angus AO alongside the Victorian Minister for Ageing, the Honourable Ingrid Stitt and the Honourable Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria:
- Ageing Well Award: Virginia Mack, 67
- Promotion of Multiculturalism Award: Chidambram Srinivasan (Srini), 83
- Healthy and Active Living Award: Gail White, 77
- Veteran Community Award: Bruce Turner, 78
- Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year: Prof Manjula Datta O’Connor, 77
“COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria applaud the well-deserving recipients of the 2024 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards,” added President Robert Caulfield.
“We congratulate each and every awardee and sincerely thank them for their commendable efforts in connecting communities, providing opportunities, promoting cultural diversity, and lifting one another up so we can all age well.”
Select recipients of this year’s COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Award will be featured in the coming weeks as part of Golden Days Radio’s COTA Connections program, which is also available wherever you get your podcasts.
The 2024 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards program is one of many, many events that comprise the larger Victorian Seniors Festival. For more on what COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria are offering during the month of October, head here.
Pictured at top: COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Award winners with CEO Ben Rogers and President Robert Caulfield.
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Further information
Steve Wright
Marketing and Communications Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9655 2159
Email: swright@cotavic.org.au
About us
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the interests and rights of people aged over 50 in Victoria. For over 70 years, we have led government, corporate, and community thinking about the positive aspects of ageing in the state.
Today, our focus is on promoting opportunities for and protecting the legal rights of people 50+. We value ageing and embrace its opportunities for personal growth, contribution, and self-expression. This belief drives benefits to the nation and its states alongside communities, families, and individuals.
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is a program of COTA Victoria and the only state-wide community legal centre dedicated to advancing the rights of older people and the early intervention into, or prevention of, elder abuse in our community.
SRV has a team of experienced advocates, lawyers, and social workers who provide free information, advice, referral, legal advice, legal casework, and support to older people who are either at risk of or are experiencing elder abuse. SRV supports and empowers older people through the provision of legal advice directly to the older person.