A Keep Victoria Beautiful initiative, the Sustainable Communities Tidy Towns awards have been going since 1983, with thousands of entrants.
The awards celebrate the positive actions taken by community groups and individuals in regional Victoria, many of whom are volunteers, actively working to make their regional communities sustainable.
Part of this recognition is the creation of the gift fund, to support Victorian community groups and individuals who are taking action.
Lifestyle Shepparton’s volunteer-run Green Team promotes maintaining a cleaner and greener community, by combatting litter and waste.
Thanks to the Green Team initiative — and its mission to be ‘part of the solution, not the pollution’ — Lifestyle Shepparton has saved 2891 litres of organic waste from landfill.
Overall, Lifestyle Communities has stopped 5754 litres of organic material from entering landfill since the inception of the project.
The $1000 will support the Lifestyle Shepparton Green Team to continue making its community litter-free and a brilliant model of sustainable practices.
Lifestyle Communities managing director James Kelly said the gift fund was an encouraging acknowledgement of the Lifestyle Shepparton Green Team’s commitment, passion and hard work.
“Lifestyle Communities and our homeowners are aligned in our consideration of the environment, and the part we play in preserving it,” he said.
"It’s so exciting and inspiring to see our homeowners demonstrate their passion for promoting sustainability and be recognised publicly for their admirable commitment.”
Commenting on this year’s Sustainable Communities Tidy Towns Awards, Keep Victoria Beautiful Tidy Town spokesperson Dick Gross said he was impressed by the calibre of entries.
“Each year, over 20,000 Victorians across our state are positively impacted and involved in the awards in some way,’’ he said.
“These amazing volunteers deserve our applause because they are working to create a beautiful, socially connected community.”