TWO young Horsham residents have been recognised at the 2019 Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
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Indigenous leader and artist Tanisha Lovett beat out hundreds of other people to win the Regional Development Victoria Leadership and Innovation Award.
Nurse Arun Thomas was also nominated for the award. Although he didn't win, he has walked away with the People's Choice Award.
Miss Lovett, 21, is a proud Wotjobaluk-Gunditjmara woman and has lived in the region her whole life.
She mentors at Indigenous youth camps and is a project facilitator for the Kookas after-school club, which focuses on teaching Indigenous kids about Aboriginal culture.
She is also part of Celebrating Sistas. The Indigenous women's group aims to empower women to embrace their culture using painting to express their creativity.
"I really enjoy working with my community, especially working with children and watching them grow. They are always so excited to show off anything they do," she said.
This year she helped organise an art exhibition at the Horsham Town Hall for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee Week.
In 2018 Miss Lovett was also nominated at the National NAIDOC awards.
Mr Thomas became one of the youngest public hospital directors in Victoria when he was appointed in 2017 at Stawell Regional Health.
Mr Thomas was also president of UniSA student association where his role greatly benefited the Aboriginal student community after identifying the need for further inclusion and representation.
Winners were announced at Flemington Racecourse on Friday night.
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