Regional Achievement & Community Award winners announced
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development Damian Drum joined representatives of communities and businesses from across regional and rural Victoria in Bendigo last night at the 2012 Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
Representing Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan Mr Drum presented two awards, sponsored by Regional Development Victoria, to Bendigo’s Design Experts, who won the Business Achievement Award and physiotherapist Theo Kapakoulakis who took out the Trade and Career Achievement Award.
“The Business Achievement Award acknowledges successful businesses that are making a significant contribution to regional and rural Victoria, while the Trade and Career Achievement Award promotes individuals enthusiastically pursuing a trade or career,” Mr Drum said.
Mr Drum said both award recipients had demonstrated strong commitment to their local communities and were shining examples of the sort of success and difference people can make in regional and rural areas.
“Design Experts established operations in Bendigo in 2008 and had since grown from three to 13 staff and expanded operations to Echuca and Shepparton,” Mr Drum said.
“Theo Kapakoulakis is a leading physiotherapist who has been integral changes in Bendigo Health's orthopaedic waiting list for hip and knee osteoarthritis pain. He also volunteers his services for local sports teams and major sporting events in the area.”
Mr Drum said the Regional Achievement and Community Awards started in 2002 and had grown to become a significant and prestigious Awards program in regional Victoria.
“The 2012 Awards attracted more than 280 nominations from across regional and rural Victoria, highlighting the significance of these awards across the state,” Mr Drum said.
Other award winner include; Theo Paul Kimber - Medibank Healthy Participation Award; Sarah Cook - Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award; Demodairy Co-operative Ltd - Parks Victoria Environment and Sustainability Award; McKern Steel - BlueScope Distribution Leadership and Innovation Award; Northern Grampians Shire Council - Department of Sustainability and Environment Water Efficiency Improvements Award; and Girgarre Development Group - Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award.
