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Home > 'Go for your life' Victorian Senior of the Year Award 2009

'Go for your life' Victorian Senior of the Year Award 2009

Each year, the Victorian Government recognises the many women and men, aged 60 and over, who play a very active and involved role in their communities. These senior Victorians contribute in many ways, be it through voluntary and paid work, through sharing skills , knowledge and experience, and also through helping support their families and communities.

The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards celebrate these contributions and achievements of those seniors at a special reception at Government House on 2 October 2009.

The Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year
Council on the Ageing Victoria Senior Achiever Awards
'Go for your life' Award
Veteran Community Award

The 'Go for your life' Award acknowledges an individual who epitomises the three main messages of the 'Go for your life' initiative - to be physically active, eat healthy foods and help build a healthy and active community.

'Go for your life' would like you to help us celebrate the inspirational contributions of Mr Graham Gibson, who this year is the recipient of the 'Go for your life' Senior Achiever Award.

Mr Graham Stewart Gibson ‘Go for your life’ Senior Achiever 2009

Mr Graham Gibson, 79, has had a long involvement in community and sports, starting in Colac as a member of the fire brigade for 50 years, an organiser of the Colac Six Day race and a founding and life member of the Colac Veteran Cycling Club.

In Colac, Graham was involved with DoCare – an organisation that adopts elderly citizens, and was also part of a Mens club.

Since retiring to Portarlington, he has started up the Portarlington Pedal Group (in 2004) which provides, through cycling, a social forum for the older community who have retired or are recently widowed. He offers encouragement, support and the use of bikes to people who are new to the sport so they can ‘try’ before they buy. He organises weekly cycling trips to the countryside and an annual social event for all its members. The group now has 60 members and growing.

Due to Graham's love for riding, he has been a front rider for the visually impaired, and has donated 25 bikes to the refugees in Geelong.

Graham also repairs and rebuilds bikes to donate to Geelong’s Glastonbury Child and Family Services and the Portarlington Primary School. He responded to Black Saturday by sending 50 rebuilt bikes to the Kinglake/Marysville area for adults and children.

There are a few women in the area that highly benefit for Graham’s charitable nature. He is on call to assist with their gardening, and general maintenance.

Graham enjoys keeping active with a range of activities including walking, strength training and of course cycling!

Congratulations Graham!

Last updated: 10/12/2009

'Go for your life' Infoline - 1300 73 98 99