Award with heart

By Lia Bichel
AVOCARE Community Distribution Centre (ACDC) has received national praise for its healthy lifestyle contributions to Greater Dandenong residents.
ACDC, a One Stop Shop, earned Greater Dandenong $10,000, the National Overall Winner perpetual trophy and a commemorative plaque after beating out 103 other local governments in the Heart Foundation Local Government Awards 2009.
The awards recognise outstanding achievements of local governments in the continuing fight against Australia’s leading cause of death, cardiovascular disease.
ACDC is a not-for-profit organisation created in 2003 to address the community need for innovative, holistic, integrated training and employment programs for participants whose needs are not being adequately met through other services.
They also play an important role by providing food relief in Greater Dandenong.
Avocare director TrishKeilty said she was honouredthe centre received a state and national award.
“A lot of hard work from a lot of people went into this,” she said.
Paperbark Ward councillor Roz Blades praised Avocare for their continuous efforts and said she felt the recognition highlighted the importance of helping needy people in the region.
“I think the award tells a story about the need for this program in the community,” she said.
Cr Roz said in 2008 there was an increase of about 13,000 prepared meals distributed for food relief, and the total distributed was equivalent to about 1000 meals per day.
Heart Foundation Victoria chief executive officer Kathy Bell said Avocare was deserving of the award.
“(Avocare) demonstrated the strength of partnerships in improving and increasing the food supply to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of the community,” she said.
“Local governments play a pivotal role in introducing structural change, implementing policies and creating supportive environments which allow people to be physically active, reduce smoking and improve their daily eating habits.”
The centre also landed City of Greater Dandenong the national winner – and state winner – of the Priority Groups category.