The City of Ballarat is calling on all residents to thank an inspirational older person in their lives with a nomination for the 2024 Ballarat Seniors Awards.
The awards are the City of Ballarat's way of acknowledging residents 60 years and older who give their time and efforts back to the Ballarat community.
For our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents, eligibility commences from 50 years or older.
This year there are five award categories, as well as the overall Senior of the Year Award. The award categories are as follows:
Community Service Award
- For exceptional contribution by an individual to their community.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award
- For an individual dedicated to improving social inclusion, connection and participation for our diverse communities such as LGBTIQA+, Disability, First Nations or Multicultural.
Healthy and Active Living Award
- For an individual helping to create active and healthy communities through community involvement and as a role model.
Community Teamwork Award
- For a voluntary group, club or project who have made an outstanding contribution to the community in the last 2 years.
Lifetime Achievement Award
- For an individual, with dedicated, continuous voluntary service or contribution to the community over many years. (Can include service prior to eligibility age)
From these categories, the most exceptional nomination will be chosen as the 2024 Senior of the Year.
According to the 2021 Census there are almost 35,000 Ballarat residents aged over 55 in 2021 and that figure is expected to grow to more than 42,000 by 2036.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the annual awards highlighted and recognised the contribution of older people to the Ballarat community.
"Every year we see such wonderful examples of people who do some incredible things in Ballarat," Cr Hudson said.
"I encourage everybody to have a think about somebody in their life who deserves recognition. Whether it is a friend, a relative, a colleague or anybody you might come across, I'm sure everybody knows somebody who is doing something special."
This year's awards will be presented at a special reception at Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre on Friday 1 November.
Nomination forms can be downloaded on the City of Ballarat website, with hard copies available at the City of Ballarat Customer Service Centre in the Phoenix Building at 225 Armstrong Street, or from all three Ballarat Libraries at central, Wendouree and Sebastopol.
Nominations close on Monday 16 September.
