Contribution to Community
Community Organisation Division
SecondBite
SecondBite is a dynamic Melbourne based organisation committed to making a difference by sourcing good quality food destined for landfill and delivering it to 47 agencies and thousands of people in need. Since January 2007 SecondBite has stopped 180 tonnes of fresh food going to waste.
Run predominantly by volunteers, SecondBite will prevent over 200 tonnes of surplus food going to landfill in the next 12 months, which equates to 180 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions saved. The SecondBite model is simple and economical. Every dollar that is donated enables the organisation to collect enough fresh food to produce two hearty, adult-sized meals.
Corporation Division
Immigration Museum
The only program of its kind in Australia, the Immigration Museum's Community Connections program promotes respect for cultural diversity and difference to a broad audience across Melbourne. The museum hosts six Community Connections events every year. Each event is created and produced in partnership with the communities whose cherished practices, culture, traditions, history and heritage are celebrated and commemorated by a festival or exhibition.
To date the Immigration Museum has worked collaboratively with more than 70 of Melbourne's culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and the program continues to grow and thrive. The success of Community Connections has helped the Immigration Museum establish a national and international reputation as a significant and innovative cultural tourism venue in the City of Melbourne.
Individual Division
Melissa Razuki
A true believer in the power of sport to raise awareness about global issues such as poverty and homelessness, Melissa Razuki has devoted her time and energy to the Big Issue's Street Soccer Program for more than 18 months. Held every week in Fitzroy, the Street Soccer Program culminated in the 2008 Homeless World Cup at Federation Square and Birrarung Marr in December. To generate grass roots support for the event and engage young people in issues surrounding homelessness, Melissa designed the Adopt a Team program which currently involves 30,000 students across Victoria.
Adopt a Team links students to teams from underprivileged nations attending the Homeless World Cup, and school communities support their adopted team through fundraising and awareness activities. Melissa's work has raised the consciousness of many young people about the devastating impact of poverty and homelessness in Australia and around the world.
Contribution to Profile
Community Organisation Division
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival
Boasting a jam-packed program of 220 events, the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival attracted more than 312,000 local, interstate and international visitors to the city in 2008. From the World's Longest Lunch at Flemington Racetrack, to a large-scale BBQ at Federation Square, through to alfresco dinners, bustling riverside produce markets and mass riverbank wine tastings – the festival highlights the unique precincts and cultural places that define Melbourne.
Generally a fragmented and competitive group, the Melbourne hospitality industry unites each year under the passion and commitment of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Over 17 years the festival's comprehensive marketing program has helped cement Melbourne's global reputation as Australia's premier food and wine destination.
Corporation Division
Atlantic Group (v)
Established in 1999 at South Wharf, the Atlantic Group (v) is a venue, catering and event management company with a proven track record of delivering contemporary, cutting-edge events. Setting a new benchmark in event and function spaces, the company's South Wharf venue has become synonymous with a great night out in Melbourne.
In August 2007 Atlantic Group (v) unveiled its boldest undertaking to date – four sophisticated and stylish event spaces in a new home at Shed 14a Central Pier, Docklands, with an additional development underway in adjacent Shed 9.
Shed 9 is soon to be home to an eclectic mix of tourism and leisure tenancies and is the largest current private investment in Victoria. Atlantic Group (v) has helped make Docklands one of the hottest places in town for a corporate event or social celebration. Soon its venues will also offer locals and tourists alike a great place to savour a cocktail, enjoy a meal or dance til dawn.
Individual Division
Fiona Sweetman
With an unparalleled knowledge of all things Melbourne, Fiona Sweetman gets enormous pleasure out of introducing people to her home town through her innovative Hidden Secrets Tours.
Focussing on Melbourne's central business district, she takes people behind the imposing facades of the city's main streets and into its bustling laneways and arcades for an insight into what really makes Melbourne tick – its hidden quirks, forgotten stories and thriving, creative heart. Through countless tours, special events and extensive networking, Fiona has greatly enhanced Melbourne's reputation as a vibrant city, and contributed to its success as a national and international destination for shopping, fashion, design, food, nightlife and much more.
Contribution to Environment
Community Organisation Division
ICLEI Oceania
ICLEI Oceania is a not-for-profit organisation committed to helping local governments achieve sustainable management practices. The organisation's Accelerating Now! Conference, held in May 2007, demonstrated a range of sustainable management practices including waste reduction, resource conservation, carbon emissions reduction and offsetting, and communicated this green approach to delegates and stakeholders.
ICLEI Oceania recognises that 'greening' an event is an ongoing process and not a once-off activity, which is why the Accelerating Now! Conference incorporated sustainable development principles across all levels of event organisation and implementation.
Corporation Division
Climate Positive
Climate Positive is a Melbourne-based organisation striving to set new industry standards in solutions to global warming. The company works with a range of businesses, organisations and individuals to help them reduce and offset their carbon emissions.
Climate Positive aims to educate businesses about global warming and provide achievable solutions. Since it was established in 2006, Climate Positive has worked with thousands of businesses and individuals to build knowledge about addressing global warming. Their work has resulted in nearly 50,000 tonnes of carbon emission offsets and 18 hectares of forest restoration.
Individual Division
Kim Thien Truong
Kim Thien Truong has made it her mission in life to educate all sectors of the Vietnamese community about the importance of conservation and environmental sustainability. For several years Kim has delivered a series of environmental education workshops at schools, temples and senior citizens groups to introduce people to simple tools and techniques that can be employed in the home and at work.
By overcoming cultural and language barriers, she has empowered Melbourne's Vietnamese community to reduce energy and water consumption, reduce waste and recycle.
Melburnian of the Year
Go to 2008 Melburnian of the Year for a profile of John Bertrand.