Yarra Ranges Resident Mark Edmonds won the Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year at the 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Award, held at Government House on 20 October.
For more than 30 years, the annual Victorian Senior of the Year Awards have celebrated the achievements and community contributions of older Victorians whose skills, time and energy make a positive difference across the state.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Richard Higgins, congratulated Mr Edmonds on the prestigious honour.
"The Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year recognises an individual who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to their local community and to Victoria and, in Mark's case, even to the wider global community," said Cr Higgins.
"Mark's dedication to helping others and creating genuine, long-term change in communities is inspiring. Since retiring, he has devoted himself to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families across the globe. We're thrilled to see him recognised with this honour."
Mr Edmonds said the children benefiting from his work remained his primary focus. "Since retirement in 2006 I have volunteered in twelve countries, however over the past thirteen years have concentrated my endeavours in Zimbabwe for the benefit of underprivileged and orphaned children."
"I am honoured to receive this award but equally the satisfaction for me is seeing many Zimbabwean children in better health due to improved diets as a result of the vegetable, chicken and pig-farming projects. They are also learning how to grow food," said Mr Edmonds.
The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards took place at Government House on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
Minister for Seniors, the Hon. Nick Staikos MP, and President of Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, Robert Caulfield, joined the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, to present the awards.
Mr Edmonds award was accepted on his behalf by his son, Steven.
The annual Victorian Senior of the Year Awards are a highlight of the Victorian Seniors Festival, which runs throughout October.
As part of the statewide festival, the Yarra Ranges Over 50s Festival celebrates the contributions of older people in our community with more than 100 free and low-cost events programmed across the municipality.
Mark Edmonds' Story:
After a career in corporate banking, Mark joined Vision Fund and Uniting World. He mentored in finance and building projects in many countries.
At the Mathew Rusike Children's Home in Zimbabwe, Mark realised he could offer more. The program housed 150 orphaned children and supported another 2,000 via outreach. Mark knew he could offer practical help, which he learnt from growing up on farms.
In his own time, Mark raised funds to go back and establish a vegetable farm and irrigation system. Over years, he returned to double the crops and set up other infrastructure. Now, the orphanage grows enough food to feed all the children and
sell the extra produce.
Mark has since established similar systems at 3 other locations in Zimbabwe: Gokwe, Waddilove and Lirhanzo.
Over 2,000 students have gained a hands-on agricultural education. Mark's work helps to build lasting skills and stronger futures for children across Zimbabwe.
2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Award recipients | Seniors online
