The 2010 Regional Achievement and Community Awards will be officially launched across regional Victoria. The search is on for individuals and group high achievers, towns and communities that are making a difference to their communities through their hard work, dedication and innovation.

• Tuesday 4th May – WANGARATTA at the Council Chambers, corner of Ovens and Ford Streets, proudly sponsored by the Rural City of Wangaratta. Launch starts at 10.30am with a free morning tea and concludes at 11.30am.
  
  
• Wednesday 5th May – MORWELL in the Nambur Wariga Room at the Latrobe City Headquarters, proudly sponsored by the Latrobe City Council. Launch starts at 10.30am with a free morning tea and concludes at 11.30am.
  
  
• Tuesday 11th May – PORTLAND at the Royal Hotel, Percy Street, proudly sponsored by Portland Seaview Real Estate. Launch starts at 12.30pm with a free light lunch and concludes at 1.30pm.
  
  

Everyone is welcome. Contact the Awards office on 03 9720 2277 or email vic@awardsaustralia.com.

All winners will be presented with a trophy and a prize in the relevant category

• Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement Award – The winner will receive a television airtime package comprising 20 x 30 second airtime commercials on the Prime Network
  (* conditions apply).
  
  
• Regional Development Victoria Trade and Career Achievement Award – The winner will receive a television airtime package comprising 20 x 30 second airtime commercials on the Prime Network
  (* conditions apply).
  
  
• Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Parks Victoria Environment and Sustainability Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• RACV free2go Youth Community Involvement Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• BlueScope Distribution Leadership and Innovation Award – The winners will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award ­ The winners will receive a $2,000 AwardSaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• All nominees and finalists will receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate of encouragement for their nomination.
  
  
• All cash prizes will be AwardSaver accounts presented in Commonwealth Bank envelopes
  

*Bonus airtime commercial spots include local exposure for the winner in the Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement and Trade and Career Achievement section.

AWARDS PRESENTATION

The finalists and winners of the Regional Achievement and Community Awards for Victoria will be announced at a special gala awards presentation dinner to be held at the Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre. This will take place on Saturday 16th October 2010.

The presentation dinner will be a formal event attended by over 400 people including VIP guests.

	Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement Award In regional rural areas successful businesses are making important economic contributions. Creative business and commercial ventures provide opportunities for regional growth, productivity, leadership, training and employment. Businesses are continuing to realise their corporate vision and mission in areas such as product development, manufacturing and construction, agriculture, primary industry, e-commerce, wholesaling, exporting, retailing, trades and other professional services. The Business Achievement Award will acknowledge and highlight the continued success and achievements of businesses.
	Regional Development Victoria Trade and Career Achievement Award Regional Victorian’s are pursuing their trade or career with passion and vitality. Whether it is climbing the corporate ladder, progressing from apprentice to workshop manager, or starting their own small business employing fellow Victorian’s, they are proving that career success can start anywhere. The Trade & Career Achievement Award promotes a community focus, active leadership, a desire for self-improvement, and reward those who make their own opportunities a success.
	Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award The Regional Achiever Award applauds our unsung heroes and high achievers, acknowledging excellence in a chosen profession or field of endeavour. It might be sport, art, culture, regional initiative, primary industry, agriculture, academia or it could be an act of bravery that deserves recognition. This Award presents an opportunity for our whole community to gain inspiration from their dedication, commitment, leadership or act of heroism. The Regional Achiever Award will pay tribute to their contribution to the community.
	Parks Victoria Environment and Sustainability Award The Environment and Sustainability Award acknowledges individuals, groups and organisations that show a proven passion and dedication to reducing environmental impacts in regional and rural areas. By implementing environmental, land care and sustainability practices on their properties or within the local community, land owners and the broader community have shown increased commitment to raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of environmental issues, which will in turn help to protect the planet’s vital resources. This Award will recognise individuals, groups and organisations that aim to improve our patterns of consumption and environmental behaviour. They are environmentally conscious and understand that future generations will be dependant on the environment, and their actions will encourage sustainable and responsible development in the future.
	Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award The Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award recognises individuals, farmers and farm businesses, community groups, and research and training bodies who contribute to the success and sustainability of the Victorian dairy industry through leadership, innovation or a significant contribution to dairying communities. The winner will be involved in the Victorian dairy industry in one of the following areas: primary production; research and development; education and training; or health and dairy-based nutrition. Dairy is an important and historical part of regional Victorian communities, contributing to employment and the economy. We encourage those who are passionate about dairy and making a real difference to the Victorian dairying communities to nominate.
	RACV free2go Youth Community Involvement Award Young People are a fantastic source of skills, knowledge, experience, energy and ideas in a community. The Youth Community Involvement Award will recognise young people, groups working with and for young people and youth activities that actively encourage and involve young people in planning, empowering, organising and decision making activities in their community. It may be developing and running community events, creating stronger relationships between young people and the broader community, building skills and leadership or working with other young people on issues affecting young people and communities.
	BlueScope Distribution Leadership and Innovation Award Tenacity, dedication, selflessness, leadership and innovative thinking are the key qualities of those amazing individuals who are the “driving force” in their community. These individuals are at the forefront of community contribution in their field of endeavour. They may have overcome significant difficulty, adversity or hardship to achieve excellent outcomes and raise pride in the community and our state. They may have pioneered significant changes in their community, business or organisation that have altered the way people think and perform for the better. The BlueScope Distribution Leadership & Innovation Award will acknowledge role models who through their leadership, innovation and driving force pave the way for others to follow.
	Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award The Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award provides well deserved recognition for groups and organisations who make a significant contribution to and for their community. These awards aim to recognise groups and organisations that have made a difference to regional and rural Victoria. These community groups share a strong sense of community spirit, which plays a vital role in enhancing the social, economic, commercial and environmental prosperity of their region. Whether it be working together on an event, restoration project, providing a service, program or a project, it is important to recognise and encourage these groups and organisations, as their efforts help to make regional communities stronger, more vibrant, and help to promote a true community spirit for this and future generations to come.