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Victoria Honours Regional Community Leaders

16 October 2015

Regional Victoria’s community leaders have been celebrated for their commitment and contribution to regional and rural Victoria in the 2015 Regional Achievement and Community Awards held in Melbourne last night.

Patron of the Awards, Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, congratulated all award winners, who are each striving to make regional Victoria a better place to live, work and visit.

The awards acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural Victoria.

Ms Pulford presented the Business Achievement Award and the Leadership and Innovation Award.

The Business Achievement Award acknowledges successful businesses that make a significant contribution to the economic development of regional and rural Victoria through their pursuit of business excellence.

This year’s winner was AME Systems, an electrical wire harness manufacturer based in Ararat. AME Systems employs more than 230 staff, making it one of the largest employers in the local community, and across the Grampians/Pyrenees Region.

The Leadership and Innovation Award shines the spotlight on those who have overcome significant difficulty, adversity or hardship to achieve excellent outcomes and raise pride in their community and our state.

The winner for 2015 was Bill Mithen, Chief Executive Officer of the Give where you Live Foundation, which provides grants to community organisations working to alleviate disadvantage in the Geelong region.

The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be a major sponsor of the awards, which have grown over 13 years to become the most prestigious awards programs in regional Victoria.

Through the Labor Government’s $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund we are continuing to invest in regional Victoria by growing jobs, building infrastructure and strengthening communities, paving the way for future leadership and innovation that drives growth and resilience.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford

“I congratulate Victoria’s Regional Achievement and Community Award winners for demonstrating their passion and dedication to making regional Victoria a thriving place for our diverse communities to prosper.”

“Through our $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund we’re supporting our regional communities to be the best they can be.”

“We will continue to invest in all parts of regional Victoria, driving business growth and innovation that strengthens our regional communities.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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