Two inspirational locals honoured in 2021 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards

Two Ballarat locals were recognised this week at the Victorian Government’s ‘2021 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards’.  

For more than 25 years, the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards have recognised the volunteer work and community contributions of older Victorians. This year’s awardees highlight the resilience, compassion and commitment of senior Victorians, particularly during the pandemic.  

Ballarat’s Anne Tudor OAM has been awarded the renowned Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year and Uncle Frank Laxton has received a COTA (Council on the Ageing) Victoria Senior Achiever Award. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said both were deserved recipients of such honours for the tremendous contribution they had made in their respective fields. 

“Anne and her wife Edie, who sadly passed in 2020, have both been an inspiration to dementia sufferers within the Ballarat community,” Cr Moloney said. 

“They shared their story together and in 2016 created the community driven campaign Bigger Hearts, inspiring others to make their regional community dementia friendly. 

“Anne’s work has been unrelenting and only in June this year, we saw the opening of Australia’s first dementia friendly forest and sensory walking trail in Ballarat’s Woowookarung Regional Park, thanks to her vision and dedication to this worthy cause.” 

Uncle Frank Laxton was recognised for his extraordinary community leadership, supporting Aboriginal people through culture, health, employment and secure housing over most of his adult life and into retirement.  

“Uncle Frank has been a cornerstone to the diverse Ballarat Aboriginal community,” Cr Moloney said. 

“As Ballarat was a key location for orphanages where Stolen Generation children were placed, it is now home to people from many different places of Country. 

“Uncle Frank has been committed to reducing racism and increasing general community understanding of Aboriginal histories and cultures, something as a community we embrace and thank him for. 

“He has also worked with one of our community’s most marginalised groups – Aboriginal prisoners. His emotional, cultural and practical support to guide Aboriginal prisoners towards better health, healing and connection to community sees our utmost respect.” 

Ann Tudor continues to advocate for those living with Dementia and for progress across Australia in the health, aged care, diversity and local government sectors.  

Uncle Frank has given 25 years as Chairperson and Director of the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-Operative (BDAC) board, leading significant cultural ceremonies and sharing knowledge and stories with the community.