Our 42nd Annual Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities award winners

This week we announced the winners of our 42nd Annual Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities awards at Showtime Events centre in South Wharf.

In what was a brilliant evening, full of connection, inspiring stories and celebration, we welcomed individuals and organisations from across the state to celebrate outstanding contributions to keeping Victoria beautiful and sustainable.

These awards are made possible with the generous support of our sponsors:
EPA Victoria
CDS – Vic – Container Deposit Scheme

City of Melbourne
Hanson

GME
Awards Online

We are proud to announce:

Our 2024 Tidy Town of the year is Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula

Our 2024 Tidy City of the year is the City of Hume

The EPA Waste Prevention and Reduction Award.

This award recognises projects that focus on minimising what goes into landfill and is generously sponsored by EPA Victoria.

The Tidy Towns EPA Waste Prevention and Reduction winner – Connecting Our Community – Rye Community House

Tidy Cities EPA Waste Prevention and Reduction winner – Food Organics Recycling in High Rise Buildings, Melbourne City Council.

Energy Category

This award recognises projects that demonstrate leadership and innovation in conservation, production and distribution of energy.

Tidy Towns energy winner – Giving Bunyip Something to BRAG About – Bunyip  Renewables Action Group

Tidy Cities Energy winner – Giving Power – Bendigo Sustainability Group

Young Legend.

This award recognises an individual or group of people all 25 years or younger who demonstrate outstanding contribution to any of the categories.

Tidy Towns Young Legend winner – Sustainable Futures – Victoria Rd Primary School.

Tidy City Young Legend winner – Brentwood Secondary College Dream Team.

Litter.

This award recognises projects that take action to address their local litter issues.

Tidy Town Litter award winner – SHARE Agency – Mechanical Beach Rake project

Tidy City Litter award winner  – Werribee River Litter Blitz program – Werribee River Association

Community

This award recognises any project that leads towards a stronger, more resilient and thriving community or economy.

Tidy Towns Community winner – Creating Healing Projects – Treasuring Our Trees

Tidy Cities Community winner – Western Emergency Relief Network (WERN)

  

Environment.

This award recognises projects that protect, restore and prevent damage to the natural environment.

Tidy Town Environment winner – Tides of Change: Clearing the Way for Coastal Resilience

Tidy City Environment winner – Project Cultivate at Melbourne General Cemetery – Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust

Indigenous Culture.

This award recognises outstanding commitment to the conservation and celebration of the rich diverse culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Tidy Towns Indigenous Culture winner – Kerrupjmara Meats and Wadeye Youth Butchery Project

 

Heritage and Culture.

This award recognises outstanding commitment to the conservation and celebration of a community’s heritage and culture.

Tidy Town Heritage & Culture winner – The Beechworth Historic Courthouse Kelly Trials Exhibition

Tidy City Heritage & Culture winner – The Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodworking

Social Wellbeing.

This award recognises projects that contribute to an accessible community with resilient, healthy and happy people.

Tidy Towns Wellbeing winner – ‘Celebrate Dja Dja Wurrung Country’

Tidy Cities Wellbeing winner – STEM Sisters – Dress to Express

Behaviour Change and Education.

This award recognises an educational campaign or program that results in empowerment and behaviour change that builds community.

Tidy Town Behaviour change and Education winner – Mornington Peninsula’s Sustainability Education Program, Mornington Peninsula Shire

Tidy City Behaviour change and Education winner – Siptember – STREAT

Dame Phyllis Frost Memorial Award–

This year’s winner of the Dame Phyllis Frost Award is awarded posthumously to Michelle McCready.

Michelle played a pivotal role in promoting community engagement and environmental stewardship. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding Hastings to receive both Victorian and National awards from Keep Australia Beautiful. This award serves as a testament to Michelle’s enduring impact and her unwavering dedication to enhancing the well-being of her community.

Michelle dedicated over 15 years of service to the Mornington Peninsula Shire, holding various positions that showcased her versatility. While the KABV team initially encountered her through her involvement with the Councillor Support team, her impact extended throughout the organization. She contributed significantly to initiatives in Renewable Resources, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, among others.

Michelle excelled as the coordinator for the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s submissions to the Keep Victoria Beautiful awards, overseeing judging days and Awards nights with finesse. She personally guided judges through the Peninsula’s diverse communities and locations, demonstrating her commitment to fostering community connections. Michelle’s community-oriented approach and genuine warmth made her a valued member of multiple teams within the Shire. Her dedication ensured that towns across the shire were represented in the awards, reflecting her deep passion for community involvement.

Her leadership was instrumental in guiding Hastings to receive both Victorian and National awards from Keep Australia Beautiful.

We were joined on the night by her daughter, who will graciously accepted the award on behalf of Michelle and her family.