2018 Pride of Australia Award recipients recognised for their outstanding and selfless work across Victoria
Extraordinary Victorians have been recognised for their contributions to society at the 2018 Herald Sun Pride of Australia Awards.
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Extraordinary Victorians have been recognised for their contributions to society at the 2018 Herald Sun Pride of Australia Awards.
The awards, now in their 14th year, highlighted the tireless work of parents, friends and strangers to make Australia a better place for everyone.
HERALD SUN: PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA
THE KIDS THAT INSPIRED LIFE’S LITTLE TREASURES FOUNDATION
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE DESERVE BETTER
Eight recipients from across the state came together to celebrate and recognise each others’ successes at a ceremony yesterday.
HWT chairman Penny Fowler was moved by the self-sacrificing and courageous stories of this year’s medallists.
“The Pride of Australia Medal is one of our most important community endeavours, playing a fundamental role in celebrating and acknowledging the remarkable achievements and contribution you are making to the Australian community,” she told the recipients.
“There are so many unsung heroes in the community that never get any recognition at all, and this is a way of highlighting that.”
Among the winners were parents Caterina Politi, and Matt and Robyn Cronin, bonded by the shared experience of losing sons in tragic one-punch attacks.
They both started foundations in bids to stop more needless deaths.
Ms Politi wanted the award to serve as a reminder to anyone that they could make a difference.
“It’s a bittersweet award because the work that I’ve been doing together with our group is never going to bring David back,” Ms Politi said.
“We can make changes, we’ve got a voice, we can use it for the good in the community,” she added.
Pat Cronin’s parents started the foundation in his name to honour their son.
“He was a good young man,” Ms Cronin said.
“We’ve still got a lot to do but we won’t be stopping.”
PATRICK CRONIN’S FAMILY FINDS PURPOSE IN FOUNDATION
His father found strength in knowing the foundation was making a difference and might save someone else.
“You never ever think you’re going to have to bury your own child,” Mr Cronin said. “There’s no excuse for violence. People are going to remember that long-haired footballer.
“We know we’re impacting lives and we’re making a difference.”
Shusannah Morris was awarded the Australia Post Pride of Australia Medal for creating the Little Treasures Foundation, to help the parents of premature babies.
She started the foundation after her daughter was born prematurely 15 years ago and she realised how little help and information was out there for parents.
The awards were presented at a moving ceremony yesterday, in partnership with Australia Post and Seven News. The initiative was launched by News Corp Australia in 2005 and has honoured more than 650 Australians in that time.
A ceremony to announce the national winner and the editors’ choice winner will be held in Sydney next week.
Shusannah Morris — Australia Post Pride of Australia Medal
Awarded for creating the Little Treasures Foundation to help the parents of premature babies.
She started the foundation after her daughter was born prematurely 15 years ago, and she realised how little help and information was available for parents.
Chris Hall — Pride of Australia Medal
Recognised for living a life full of passion and commitment to causes and prevailing through physical adversity.
He has raised thousands of dollars for motor neurone disease.
Preeti Daga — Pride of Australia Medal
Bringing together the Indian and Australian communities has been the life mission of Ms Daga.
She has worked across business, sports and the arts for the past 10 years to make her vision of a united Australia a reality.
Caterina Politi and Matt & Robyn Cronin — Pride of Australia Medals
These parents were jointly honoured for working tirelessly to end one-punch attacks.
Both lost sons in devastating attacks and have worked through their pain to try to prevent any other parents going through the same thing.
Amy Kenny & Hannah Keane — Pride of Australia Medals
The teenagers were awarded medals for their heroic rescue of a drowning man.
The off-duty volunteer lifesavers put themselves in harm’s way to save a stranger.
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