Awards were presented at the We Are Brimbank Gala Dinner on Friday 5 October 2018.
All ticket sales went to the Brimbank Community Fund.
Culture, Arts & Tourism Award
The Friends of the Black Powder Mill
The Black Powder Mill is of historical, social and scientific significance at the national level as the only surviving component of a gunpowder manufacturing facility on its original site in Australia.
The Friends of the Black Powder Mill were formed in 2001 in response to the issuing of a partial demolition permit of the mill, despite the Albion Factory, including the Black Powder Mill, being placed on the Register of the National Estate in 1998, and the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) classifying the mill of national significance.
The Friends of the Black Powder Mill lobbied for the saving of the mill and advocated for its restoration. As a result of their efforts, the mill was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2003 and they were awarded an $11,000 grant from Heritage Victoria, with further grants and donations received leading to the launch of the restored mill in 2005.
The passion and determination of The Friends of the Black Powder Mill resulted in the mill being restored; bringing back to life a fully operational mill for the local and wider community to experience and this is a significant part of Brimbank’s heritage.
Environment & Sustainability Award
Friends of Kororoit Creek
The Friends of Kororoit Creek has been in existence for 25+ years and originally started with works focused on Buckingham Reserve in Sunshine West.
The group has consistently worked with Council, Melbourne Water and other organisations for the betterment of Kororoit Creek. The group also holds a variety of events and activities along Kororoit Creek and within the wider Sunshine area, including working bees – weeding, planting, rubbish removal – and clean-up activities, including Clean-Up Australia Day.
Friends of Kororoit Creek are a voice for the community, about and for, Kororoit Creek.
Employment & Enterprise Award
Mambourin Enterprises Ltd
Mambourin Enterprises exists to connect people with disability to every opportunity, and supports them to get what they want out of life. Mambourin Enterprises works with their vast networks to ensure that people with disability achieve exceptional outcomes.
Established in 1972 for children with an intellectual disability, Mambourin has since grown into a highly respected organisation that provides disability support to over 400 people across Day Programs, Supported Employment and Traineeships.
Mambourin Enterprises was the first provider of Supported Employment across the outer western suburbs of Melbourne and as we move towards the NDIS, Mambourin’s vision is of a community enriched by people with disabilities achieving their potential and independence.
Inclusive Brimbank Award
Brimbank Youth Ambassadors
Brimbank Youth Ambassadors work with young people aged between 12-25 years who live, work, study or recreate in Brimbank. They support young people to participate in education, health and wellbeing, recreation and employment activities, contributing to a strong sense of belonging and pride in their community.
Brimbank Youth Ambassadors won this award for a specific initiative that makes a positive difference to the community, the Westies Y-Link. This is a monthly e-newsletter designed, developed and maintained by Brimbank Youth Ambassadors, which contains news and information about the opportunities for young people in Brimbank, and the West more broadly. It also profiles local young people using their own voices, addressing both important matters and light-hearted ones.
Learning Excellence Award
Community Health Advancement and Student Engagement (CHASE)
Launched in 2013, CHASE is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation that works to improve health literacy through education, community volunteering and peer-to-peer mentoring for students experiencing disadvantage in Melbourne’s west.
The CHASE Program is a year-long program that complements the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) – Personal Development Skills; a hands-on option for students in Years 11 and 12 that provides practical work-related experience.
CHASE currently works with five different schools in Melbourne’s west, three of which lie within Brimbank. They currently partner with Copperfield College, St Albans Secondary College and Victoria University Secondary College.
In 2018, the CHASE Program is engaging with over 200 Year 11 students in Brimbank, with over 1,000 local students engaging with the program since 2013.
