Cancer Awareness Champion Is Our Senior Of The Year

02:08' 10-10-2017

Mornington volunteer worker and cancer survivor, 77-year-old Roy Francis, has won the prestigious Victorian Senior of the Year award for his tireless work and travel promoting cancer awareness around the state.

Photo: Herald Sun

Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley and Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, presented the awards at a ceremony at Government House today, where Roy and 14 other award recipients were recognised for their community contributions.

Roy founded the Mornington Peninsula Prostate Cancer Support group and is a volunteer ambassador for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the National Stroke Foundation and beyondblue. Much of his time is spent travelling around Victoria giving presentations on cancer awareness and promoting the bowel cancer program.

Older Victorians make up more than 15 per cent of the state’s population and the annual Seniors Awards recognise the enormous contribution made by seniors across the state.

Other award recipients include 78-year-old Marcello D’Amico of Watsonia for the Promotion of Multiculturalism Award, 73-year-old Barry ‘Butch’ Witmitz of Kaniva for the Healthy and Active Living Award and 71-year-old Roger Boness of Mt Evelyn for the Veteran Community Award.

This year’s Age-Friendly Victoria Award went to Travellers Aid Australia, which ticks all the boxes for an age-friendly organisation with its positive promotion of older Victorians.

The awards are part of the 2017 Victorian Seniors Festival which runs throughout the month of October and offers more than 1,500 free and low-cost events all over Victoria, including a huge array of social, cultural and educational activities.

For more information about events and activities, visit seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festival or pick up a free Victorian Seniors Festival program at any Coles store, local library, council office or neighbourhood house. You can also call 1300 135 090 to have a program sent to you.