Goolum Goolum's Aboriginal Co-operative has won the Indigenous Culture category of the 2020 Tidy Towns award.
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During a brief awards ceremony hosted over youtube on Saturday night, the co-operative was recognised for its 2019 NAIDOC week art exhibition.
"An art project initiated in response to community feedback regarding the lack of opportunities for local Aboriginals to learn, share teaching and celebrate local language and culture in an artistic way. Great work guys," said host Charlie Ranger.
Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative health and wellbeing manager Dean O'Loughlin said the award was fantastic news.
"It's overwhelming. We were up against some very strong entries," Mr O'Loughlin said.
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"It was a big process. We presented to the Tidy Town committee about a month ago."
Mr O'Loughlin said the NAIDOC week art exhibition made an impact on the community.
"We had more than 4300 people through the door to see the exhibition," he said.
"When we found that out we knew it was something special.
"The exhibition was a way of celebrating local Indigenous people and our culture."
Mr O'Loughlin said he was proud to announce it will hold another art exhibition in 2021, following a successful funding application to the Federal Government.
The co-operative wasn't the only Horsham representative to take home an award, with Horsham Agricultural Society president Zack Currie was joint winner of the Young Legend Award tying with Harrison Hansen of Westernport Secondary College.
Both received a perfect score in their category, with Mr Currie recognised for organising the Horsham Show, horse show, New Years Eve event, Irish festival and working bees.
He was also named HRCC's young citizen of the year on Australia Day earlier this year.
Meanwhile, in the Tidy Town of the year award, Hastings, on the eastern edge of the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, beat Horsham, Dimboola and several other towns nominated to win.
Horsham Rural City Council also won the energy category for its "Energising Communities" program. This saw them work with residents to install solar panels on community hall rooves to cut power bills and greenhouse gas emissions. It was one of only two entries in this category, and the scheme is set to continue in 2021.
In the social wellbeing category, the Wimmera Hospice Care Auxiliary, for continuing its fundraising for people with life-limiting illnesses during the pandemic.
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
