THE City\u2019s older citizens took centre stage last week when the winners of this year\u2019s Senior of the Year Awards were announced.<\/p>\n
Recipients were recognised during an event at Town Hall on Thursday with 11 finalists acknowledged across five categories.<\/p>\n
Ugo Lo Iacono took home the Equity Diversity and Inclusion award alongside the coveted Senior of the Year accolade, which was chosen out of the winners of each category.<\/p>\n
A volunteer for more than six decades, Mr Lo Iacono established the Italian Seniors Club and the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre, and said it was great to see his efforts recognised.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t expect it. It\u2019s very nice, I\u2019m not denying it, because I\u2019ve been doing this kind of work for many, many years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was at the hospital committee and I was president. I was in the Clunes council. I was involved in the Lions Club, the Scouts\u2026I was the leader of the Youth Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to see people enjoy getting something out of life. I was getting the enjoyment to see that they would learn something, whatever we did.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Volunteer Award went to the Delacombe Salvation Army\u2019s John Donaldson, while cyclist Ron King received the Healthy and Active Living Award, and Legacy member Allan McKinnon won the Ageing Well Award.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the 2022 winners spoke to seniors\u2019 resilience during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe calibre of awards was outstanding this year. There\u2019s been additional contributions this year where people have had to go above and beyond due to lockdowns,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cr Moloney also said the awards especially celebrated senior residents whose contribution was far-reaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe winners that really stood out were the ones who helped others across the generations. They weren\u2019t necessarily seniors working with seniors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe standouts were those working with younger people and that\u2019s how you really address some of issues of ageism so younger people can really value the experience our older citizens have.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City\u2019s older citizens took centre stage last week when the winners of this year\u2019s Senior of the Year Awards were announced. Recipients were recognised during an event at Town Hall on Thursday with 11 finalists acknowledged across five categories. Ugo Lo Iacono took home the Equity Diversity and Inclusion award alongside the coveted Senior […]<\/p>\n