Four Victorians named in Australian of the Year awards

Four Victorians to head to Canberra for Australian of the Year awardsTopic:Awards and PrizesPosted Fri 13 Nov 2026 at 6:27amFri 13 Nov 2026 at 6:27am, updated Fri 13 Nov 2026 at 6:28amFri 13 Nov 2026 at 6:28amCherie Dear founded a national platform for pancreatic awareness and research. (Supplied: Salty Dingo)A pancreatic cancer advocate whose husband and father died within months of each other from the disease has been recognised as the 2027 Australian of the Year for Victoria.Cherie Dear started the national platform for pancreatic awareness and research, Dare to Hope, with her co-founder and husband Paul, a former star Hawthorn player who died in July 2022.Four months later her father Don died of the same disease.Ms Dear has since established the Dare to Hope AFL match between Hawthorn and Geelong, which has become an annual Easter Monday tradition and helped raise funds and awareness of pancreatic cancer.The Melburnian's volunteer-led organisation has also funded three research scholarships.National Australia Day Council CEO Carrie Leeson said Ms Dear had "turned personal loss into a determination to find answers to pancreatic cancer".Meanwhile, an autistic autism researcher, advocate and author has been named as the Senior Australian of the Year for Victoria. Wenn Lawson was recognised for his contribution to society's understanding of autism and neurodivergence. (Supplied: Marlo W)Associate Professor Wenn Lawson, now 74, was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, and spent decades in and out of mental health institutions until he was correctly diagnosed with autism at the age of 42.He has since worked as an educational psychologist and social worker, and undertaken research and advocacy work, including penning 30 books.Ryan Brigham speaks at last night's ceremony after collecting the award for Victorian Young Australian of the Year. (Supplied: Salty Dingo)The Young Australian of the Year category for Victoria went to Ryan Brigham, who founded a charity delivering healthcare initiatives and education programs in Australia and internationally at just 21.That charity, Health in Focus, has led to more than 800 young people becoming volunteers across Australasia, south-east Asia and Africa, and raised more than $500,000 for health initiatives including free heart health assessments in Victoria.Gavin Hynam has gifted 19 cars to disadvantaged people across the Wimmera in regional western Victoria. (ABC News: Tamara Clark)Wimmera man Gavin 'Bear' Hynam, who donates his time and automotive skills through his Cars 4 Youth gifting program and his mentorship of learner drivers was named the 2027 Local Hero for Victoria.The 65-year-old lost his eldest son, Preston, in an accident just before his 21st birthday in 2008.After years of grief, Mr Hynam began channelling his passion for mentoring young people by fixing pre-loved cars and giving them to young people facing disadvantage in the Horsham area.Last year, he told the ABC it had helped put "a little bit of spring back in my step".The National Australia Day Council's Ms Lesson said all four Victorian recipients were "inspiring examples of how personal experience can drive change".They will join their fellow recipients from other states and territories for the national awards, to be announced on January 25 in Canberra.