Melbourne Awards honour our city's finest heros

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle congratulated Lighthouse Foundation founder Susan Barton last night after presenting her with the prestigious title of Melburnian of the Year at the 2009 Melbourne Awards Ceremony.

The Lord Mayor also acknowledged the tireless efforts of some of Melbourne’s unsung heroes when announcing them as winners in their respective categories for community, profile, and environment.

“I congratulate Susan Barton, director and founder of Lighthouse Foundation for her outstanding achievements in being named 2009 Melburnian of the Year.

“This is the fifth year that the Melburnian of the Year award has been presented, designed to pay tribute to high profile individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their field and to the community.

“The Awards pay homage to noteworthy individuals and organisations that make Melbourne a better place to live, work and visit,” the Lord Mayor said.

Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley said that the Melbourne Awards were a major highlight of the Melbourne Day festivities, which mark the 174 historic years since the first European settlers arrived on board the schooner, Enterprize, on the banks of the Yarra River.

“Council is delighted to see dedicated individuals, organisations and charity groups being given the recognition that they so rightfully deserve.

“The Melbourne Awards recognise the city’s achievers who have made significant contributions to Melbourne’s outstanding quality of life, economic growth and commitment to the environment.

“Our city’s achievements stem from the passionate work of these individuals and organisations that are proud to be Melbourne based,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said.

The winners of the 2009 Melbourne Awards are:

Ellen Sandell
Contribution to Environment
INDIVIDUAL DIVISION
At just 24 years of age, Ellen Sandell is one of Australia’s most prominent young environmental leaders. As the Victorian Director of Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), Ellen has achieved significant outcomes in the fields of environment and social justice locally, nationally and internationally. Ellen is passionate about environmental issues and helping young people make change on climate change.

Professor Patrick McGorry
Contribution to Community
INDIVIDUAL DIVISON
Widely considered as the “founding father” of the early intervention movement in psychiatry, Professor McGorry has transformed the national and international youth mental health treatment and research landscape through 27 years of service. His effective and caring treatment for young people with severe mental health issues has been recognised internationally.

Max Kirwan O.A.M (Order of Australia Medal)
Contribution to Profile
INDIVIDUAL DIVISION
Max Kirwan O.A.M, has dedicated his life to promote Melbourne Moomba Festival and in particular the Moomba Masters International Water Ski Championships. The first Moomba Masters Water Ski Championships on the Melbourne Yarra River has grown to become an internationally renowned water ski event, bringing the City of Melbourne to the forefront of international sporting events.

The Centre for Sustainability Leadership
Contribution to Environment
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION DIVISION
Melbourne-based not-for-profit organisation, The Centre for Sustainability Leadership creates real and systemic change through sustainability leadership and innovation. The organisation offers the Fellowship Program, akin to a Green MBA, equipping the best and the brightest with the necessary skills to be the sustainability leaders of the future. The Fellowship Program is one of only a few courses in the world, and the only Australian program, to combine leadership training with sustainability education.

Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic – Public Interest Law Clearing House
Contribution to Community
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION DIVISION
A project of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), the Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (the HPLC) was established in 2001 in response to the great need for targeted legal services for people experiencing homelessness. Since its establishment, the HPLC has provided free legal assistance to, and advocacy on behalf of over 4000 people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness in Victoria.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Contribution to Profile
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION DIVISION
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has grown from a small city-based event to Australia’s largest ticketed cultural event with a leading international reputation. Performing in some of Melbourne’s most iconic city theatre venues, the festival attracts audiences in excess of 400,000. The event is one of the world’s largest dedicated comedy festivals, bringing the best international comedians to Melbourne, as well as promoting the careers of young and up-and-coming local artists.

Zoos Victoria
Contribution to Environment
CORPORATION DIVISION
Zoos Victoria worked closely with the Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo to protect its natural resources, including coltan, which is found in electronic devices like mobile phones. In a bid to lessen the demand for coltan and protect the gorilla population, a campaign was developed to divert old phones from landfill, raise funds for the care of Melbourne Zoo’s gorillas and support the primate conservation work of the Jane Goodall Institute in Africa.

Intensive Needs Team – State Trustees
Contribution to Community
CORPORATION DIVISION
State Trustees provides financial administration services to Victorians by way of an Order from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with a statutory role to ensure the financial and legal affairs of clients are professionally managed. The State Trustees Intensive
Needs team links Melburnians in distress with other social services, such as locating crisis accommodation, accessing immediate hospital and mental health care, linking into case management services, providing advocacy and dispensing urgent cash payments.

Melbourne Cricket Club, National Sports Museum Volunteers and MCG Guides
Contribution to Profile
CORPORATION DIVISION
Since the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) opened its museum to the public in 1969, tours were conducted by MCC members and interest in heritage activities boomed. The National Sports Museum, the successor of the Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum has taken the showcasing of sport to a new level. With three times the display space and more than 300 volunteers providing about 45,000 hours of service annually, the public face of one of the world’s great stadiums provides a welcoming experience for visitors.

Susan Barton
Melburnian of the Year
As the founder and director of Lighthouse Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to reducing youth homelessness, Susan Barton has been caring for more than 500 young people for over 33 years. Lighthouse provides displaced youth with a family environment and safe home through its eight Lighthouse Foundation homes located in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Susan has been widely recognised for her dedication and commitment and she has significantly contributed to the Melbourne community.

Information about the Melbourne Award categories and judging process can all be found at www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbourneawards