By Tyler Wright
Founder of Mums of the Hills and Sassafras local Belinda Young has been named Victoria Local Hero at the 2023 Australian of the Year awards for her work advocating for mothers in the Dandenong Ranges.
Four Victorian award recipients were announced on Tuesday 8 November in a ceremony at Melbourne’s Government House in the presence of Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.
Ms Young received the award for her connecting mothers in the Yarra Ranges, both online and face-to-face, during 2021’s storm and events and the pandemic.
With around 5,000 members, Mums of the Hills has been a platform for shared resources and communications during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic lockdowns for local businesses, including mental health and food directories.
Ms Young has also advocated for better NBN, infrastructure and childcare services, and collaborated with key agencies, organisations and groups to help her community respond to and recover from natural disasters.
Victoria’s award recipients included paediatrician and co-founder of the Health Awareness Society of Australia Dr Angraj Khillan who was named Victoria Australian of the Year, and Young Australian of the Year Darcy McGauley-Bartlett who was recognised for his work as as an advocate for Indigenous health care in prisons.
Victoria’s Senior Australian of the Year was paediatrician and founding director of the Centre for Community Child Health Professor Frank Oberklaid AM.
National Australia Day Council CEO Karlie Brand congratulated the Victorian award recipients.
“The Victorian award recipients show inspirational leadership and care for others,” said Ms Brand.
“We look forward to welcoming them to Canberra for the national Australian of the Year Awards to be announced on 25 January 2023.”
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards, visit australianoftheyear.org.au.
