Fourteen deserving older Victorians were today bestowed with COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Awards as part of the 2023 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards program.
The fourteen COTA Victoria Senior Achievers for 2023 are as follows:
- Mr Shashi Kochhar, 75
- Ms Robbie Rae, 71
- Mrs Gwenyth Barbary, 86
- Mrs Rachel Sandey, 82
- Ms Annette Ward, 75
- Mr Antonio Bentincontri, 81
- Mr Ian Barclay, 65
- Ms Lorna Green, 90
- Mr Eamon Naughton, 84
- Mr David George Martin, 73
- Mrs Lesley Twidle, 77
- Mrs Elizabeth Vescio, 67
- Mr Kevin Healey, 73
- Mr Ian Doug Ashton, 80
“COTA Victoria is so pleased to continue its work with the Victorian Government as part of the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards, this year honouring the work of fourteen praiseworthy recipients,” said COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria CEO, Chris Potaris.
“The COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Awards exemplify hard work, dedication, and selflessness – and, I might add, are usually capped at just ten recipients,” Mr Potaris continued.
“Awarding fourteen individuals with this honour in 2023 illustrates the tremendous impact these older Victorians have had on their local communities and throughout the state.”
Also awarded honours today at Government House, as presided by Her Excellency the Honourable Professor Margaret Gardner AC, the Governor of Victoria, were the following Victorians:
- Healthy and Active Living Award: Douglas Sloan OAM
- Veteran Community Award: Dennis Clarke
- Promotion of Multiculturalism Award: Hahn Tran
- Ageing Well Award: Max Primmer
- Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year: Andrew Suggett
“COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria applaud all recipients honoured during the 2023 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards,” added COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria President Robert Caulfield.
“We congratulate each and every awardee and thank them for their tremendous efforts.”
Governor Gardiner and the newly appointed Victorian Minister for Ageing, Ingrid Stitt, commended each awardee for their individual contributions to Victoria.
Minister Stitt also used the awards ceremony to thank COTA Victoria for the important work it performs protecting the rights of, and promoting opportunities for, older Victorians.