Past recipients
2023
Michelle Giovas
Michelle is involved in a number of committees and community groups, to which she brings her considerable expertise in environment protection and management. She is known for her passion, commitment and tenacity, along with astute judgement.
Her past and present volunteering includes – but is definitely not limited to - Friends of Banyule, Warringal Conservation Society, Banyule Environment and Climate Action Advisory Committee, Montmorency Community Group, Monty Biodiversity Group and North East Link Project Community Liaison Group.
2022
Uncle Charles Pakana
Uncle Charles Pakana has been a prominent leader in our community for many years, instigating new initiatives for First Nations people and advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities – both within Banyule and beyond.
He served on the Banyule Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee as chair of Barrbunin Beek Aboriginal Gathering Place for nearly 3 years. And he has moderated Treaty panels for many organisations, including Banyule Council.
Uncle Charles has collaborated with a number of organisations, including Reconciliation Victoria, the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, Yoorrook Justice Commission, the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and Banyule Council, to promote positive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories and moderate Treaty panels for Banyule, Darebin Council, Moreland Council and Yarra Libraries.
He has volunteered for several years at 3KND, Melbourne’s only Indigenous radio station, presenting a current affairs program three days a week and a weekly music program, Sixties Sojourn.
In 2021 and 2022, Uncle Charles was volunteer MC for the Victorian Aboriginal Remembrance Committee Service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.
2019
John Dowdle
John's dedication to community service spans over 50 years, and his outstanding contribution to Banyule has had a positive impact on the community in many ways. He has been the president of a primary and secondary school committee, president of a sporting club and a board member of the YMCA. He was an elected Councillor and Mayor of the City of Heidelberg in 1991-92, and for 30 years he served the Neighbourhood Watch with a term of state president.
John currently leads the delivery of over 100,000 Neighbourhood Watch newsletters annually, and conducts numerous crime prevention events in the community. His selfless services to the community inspires all he works with to give back to their local community.
2018
Ray Dark
A member of the VicSES for more than 21 years, Ray is one of the longest serving officers in the Northcote and Central Region units. His dedication to the safety of the community has been an invaluable contribution to Banyule in times of emergency. Ray has held various roles in his time at the VicSES, and in addition to training many SES members he has responded to many emergencies including: the 2003 storm, which resulted in over 600 calls for assistance; the 2011 and 2016 Christmas Day storms; and numerous high-profile search operations.
He has also been deployed to different units in both Victoria and interstate to respond to emergencies such as the Black Saturday bush fires, Knox hailstorm and Sydney hailstorm emergencies. Ray was actively involved in the Chaps and Chainsaws program where VicSES members gave up their time to return to some of the worst affected areas of the Black Saturday bushfires to help residents whose properties were still littered with burnt and downed trees.
2017
Philip Ciravolo
For over 30 years, Phil, an accountant, has been a part of the Banyule and wider community as both business leader and volunteer. He has held many posts including treasurer of the Greensborough Chamber of Commerce and as president, committee member and team member of the Diamond Valley Relay for Life, with his team raising more than $5,000 towards the group’s annual $1M tally. He has worked tirelessly for organisations, not only offering his professional services but also providing enthusiasm and leadership to encourage others to join in. Phil leads by example, is quiet and unassuming, and encourages people to contribute by inspiring others to do their best to help others.
2016
Jim Pasinis
As CEO of Banyule Community Health for 26 years, Jim has built a small service into a formidable leader within the community health sector. Jim’s leadership has seen the development of services and connections to improve the health of more disadvantaged residents and the wider community. A new $12 million centre opened in 2007 in Heidelberg West, with a wide range of health services. He also helped establish Olympic Adult Education and has been a 25-year volunteer Committee Member of the West Heidelberg Community Legal Service. Jim’s leadership, commitment to social justice and vision of health led to Banyule Community Health being awarded Health Service of the Year and GP Practice of the Year in 2014.