Destination Greater Bendigo Loddon is delighted to announce that Bendigo Brittle Founder/CEO Greta Donaldson has received the prestigious Kathryn Mackenzie Award for her outstanding contribution to tourism.
Named after former City of Greater Bendigo Tourism Manager Kathryn Mackenzie OAM, the award honours individuals who go above and beyond to promote the region and further enhance visitor experiences.
Destination Greater Bendigo Loddon Executive Officer James Myatt said Greta stood out for her leadership, regional pride, and commitment to innovation and collaboration.
"Over nine years, Greta has grown Bendigo Brittle from a local product into a nationally recognised artisan brand," Mr Myatt said.
"In 2025 alone, she volunteered over 200 hours to deliver The Bloomin' Good Market, engaging 240 local businesses.
"Greta champions the region's fantastic offerings, sourcing local ingredients from Wedderburn pistachios to Loddon Shire chillies, and fosters inclusive employment opportunities for women, migrant communities, and NDIS participants."
Greta Donaldson said she was thrilled to receive the award.
"Katherine McKenzie OAM is truly a force to be reckoned with. Katherine put Bendigo on the map through countless events and activations. And honestly, if it weren't for her hard work, my business, Bendigo Brittle, may never have received the support and recognition we've been so fortunate to receive from the City of Greater Bendigo. Katherine's influence is everywhere, and I doubt we'd be celebrating 10 years in operation in 2026 without the foundation she built," Greta said.
The award was presented at Destination Greater Bendigo Loddon's inaugural AGM, marking an exciting future for the organisation. Destination Greater Bendigo Loddon is the evolution of Bendigo Tourism Board, now being the peak tourism body for Greater Bendigo, Heathcote and Loddon areas. It is recognised by the Victorian State Government as a Visitor Economy Partnership for this region.
A Visitor Economy Partnership is an independent, government-recognised organisation that leads the visitor economy in its region. This new partnership provides stronger tourism industry representation as a collective body, increases funding opportunities, enhances collaboration, and creates a unified growth strategy.
At the AGM, the four Industry Director board appointments for Destination Greater Bendigo Loddon were made: Tynille Thurlow (from Bendigo Heritage, one-year term), Rhianwen Seiter (from MacKenzie Quarters, one-year term), Alissa Van Soest (from Discovery Science & Technology Centre, two-year term) and Ann-Maree Davis (from Little Sangria, two-year term).
