Gold Logie-winning actor Samuel Johnson, whose sister Connie died following her long battle with cancer in September,has been nominated for the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year award.
Mr Johnson retired from acting in 2016 to focus on his sister's charity organisation, Love Your Sister, to raise funds for cancer research.
Connie and Samuel Johnson. Mr Johnson is one of the nominees for the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year awards.
Photo: Instagram/@loveyoursisterHe is one of the 15 nominees in the awards, which includes actor, author and spokeswoman for marriage equality Magda Szubanski; land rights and social justice leader, Graham Atkinson; medical pioneer and executive in mental health innovation Dr Harris Eyre, and diversity champion and dedicated volunteer Mohammed Alam.
The nominees are in the running to be named Victorian Australian of the Year, Victorian Senior Australian of the Year, Victorian Young Australian of the Year and Victoria's Local Hero.
The recipients will be announced on Thursday October 26 at Government House in Melbourne.
The winners will then join a cohort of 32 state and territory recipients from around Australia in the national awards, which will be held in Canberra on January 25, 2018.
National Australia Day Council chief executive Jenny Barbour said the Victorian nominees were among 130 great Australians being recognised at the state level in the Australian of the Year Awards.
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit australianoftheyear.org.au.
2018 Victorian Australian of the Year
Samuel Johnson OAM – Actor and fundraiser for cancer research (Tallarook)
Karen Livingstone – Cancer crusader (Bayside)
Magda Szubanski – Actor, author and spokeswoman for marriage equality (Melbourne)
Lyn White AM – Animal advocate (Mornington Peninsula)
Neelima Choahan is a journalist at The Age, covering general news and is passionate about social issues.
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