WIMMERA community members and groups have been recognised as finalists in the 2019 Victorian Tidy Town awards.
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A total of 27 Wimmera groups and individuals are nominated for awards.
Last year Dimboola's town committee took home the major award for Victoria's tidiest town. The town is once again nominated and will host this year's ceremony in October.
Dimboola Town Committee treasurer Kaylene Pietsch said the committee was thrilled about the recognition.
"We've got some work to do before the awards. We're expecting about 200 people to come which is great for our community's economy and tourism," she said.
"We've put in the hard yards and the community has really rallied behind us. The group is really proactive; we have a lot of projects happening and we just need to manpower to get them done."
She said the awards helped put Dimboola on the map.
"We're doing this for the betterment of the community and promote it as a tourist destination. We want people to come here and be amazed by what we have - the river, the Little Desert," she said.
Horsham is also a finalist for Victoria's tidiest town, having previously won in 2015 and 2016.
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College captain Rebekah Albrecht is a finalist in the Young Leaders Award category.
She was recognised for her involvement in a number of community groups, including Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council and Dimboola Hockey Club.
She said she was proud of the youth council's achievements in the community.
"We get to run events for the young people and engage people who wouldn't typically be involved in those events. We also get to see how council works," she said.
"You get to be that voice for young people in the community."
In 2018 she received the Order of Australia Association Hindmarsh Branch Student Citizenship Award and won Dimboola Youth Citizen of the year 2019. She was also a winner of the Premier's Spirit of ANZAC Prize.
"The Spirit of ANZAC winners got to travel to Darwin and Singapore on a study tour, which was really cool," she said.
"As school captain I get to represent the community at different events, such as Australia Day and Anzac Day. It's kind of scary to think of myself as a role model."
She said she would encourage young people to get involved within their communities.
"It's a good way to boost your confidence and interact with people you wouldn't normally. It's also a good way to give back to the community or even just a certain club," she said.
After finishing year 12 Miss Albrecht hopes to study Aviation Management at university.
Former Horsham resident and adventurer Tom Dunn is also a finalist in the Young Leaders Award category.
The 23-year-old has raised over $100,000 for charity through his endurance trips.
Most recently, he completed a 4157 kilometre journey which saw him cycling, running and swimming his way from Cape York to Wilsons Promontory.
He said awards were rewards, but not the reason why he took on challenges.
"It's awesome to be considered among the others who have done some amazing things too," he said.
"I had an incredible support network around me growing up in the Wimmera and I wouldn't have been able to do the trips I've done without that.
"I think that extends through the Wimmera. There's that culture spread through the region that we have each other's backs and that community spirit that gives people the chance to pursue their goals."
Mr Dunn said he wanted to create a career in 'Advocacy through Adventure' and promote the journeys others have made.
"I'm always trying make a point of turning attention to others who are doing great things and are deserving of recognition," he said.
Mr Dunn's next adventure will be announced within weeks. He will also appear on the Channel Nine program This Time Next Year on September 16.
"People make a pledge to achieve a goal and are followed for a 12 month period. They then go back into the studio and it's revealed whether they've completed their pledge or not," he said.
Dimboola's Lachlan Schultz is also nominated for the Young Leaders Award for his work with the Dimboola Boat and Water Ski Club.
The 2019 Victorian Tidy Town awards will at Dimboola on October 26.
See the full list of Wimmera finalists below:
Victoria's Tidiest Town:
- Dimboola
- Horsham
Young Leaders Award:
- Lachlan Schultz of Dimboola
- Rebekah Albrecht of Dimboola
- Tom Dunn of Horsham
Active Schools Award:
- Kalkee Road Kindergarten for Bush Kinder
- Dimboola Memorial Secondary College for Mosaic Welcome Board
Clean Beach/Waterway Award:
- Wimmera CMA for Wimmera River Frontage Access Restoration Works
- Dimboola Rowing Club for making the Wimmera River accessible
Community Action and Leadership Award (population below 3000):
- Dimboola Town Committee
Community Action and Leadership Award (population above 3000):
- Horsham Agricultural Society for New Year's Eve event
- Horsham Motorcycle Club for FIM 2018 Junior World Motocross Championships
Protection of the Environment Award:
- Snape Reserve Trust for Nature Committee of Management, Dimboola
- Wimmera CMA, Horsham
Community Government Partnership Award:
- Jan Ballard of Dimboola
- Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group
- Horsham Rural City Council for Sunnyside Park Landscape Plan
- Rainbow Progress Association for The Oasis Community Hub
Cultural Heritage Award:
- Stuart Harradine of Dimboola for Ranch and Billabong
- The Upper Region Cemetery, Dimboola
- Horsham Rural City Council for 2018 Remembrance Day Sunset Service
Environmental Sustainability Award:
- The Salvation Army, Horsham, for The Patch
Litter Prevention Award:
- St Peters Lutheran School, Dimboola
- Wimmera CMA for Horsham Fishing Comp
Resource Recovery and Waste Management Award:
- Hindmarsh Shire/Lions Club, Dimboola, for Dimboola Transfer Station and Lions depot
- St Brigid's College, Horsham, for The Little Mermaid
- Horsham Boomerang Bags, Horsham, for Wildlife Pouches
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