THE hard work of dozens of volunteers at the Golden Square Pool has been recognised statewide, as the facility took out the prize for community groups at the Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards.
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President Sam Kane said it showed the pool's team of 55 volunteers that their hard work was valued by the community.
Volunteers have transformed the pool into a much-loved community facility after taking over management from the City of Greater Bendigo in 2013.
The pool received the Community Group Award at the Victorian awards on Friday night.
Mr Kane said he was overwhelmed with the accolade for the volunteer team's work. He believed the pool's appeal to people of all ages, both as volunteers and patrons, was what set it apart from other nominees.
He said that being for the whole community - from those learning to swim to those taking care of their healthy and fitness - made the pool unique.
"We never ever would have thought that we would receive such recognition. All we really want to do is create a place in our community to gather and to swim and for people to be with each other so this is fantastic news," Mr Kane said.
"It just goes to show what people power can do. If the community puts their mind to something, the outcome can be incredible and that's what we've done with Golden Square Pool."
Bendigo's Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services received the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the event.
The service supports migrants and refugees to build new lives in regional Victoria. It works to celebrate the region's diversity, multiculturalism and many faiths.
Executive officer Kate McInnes said it was lovely for LCMS to be recognised for its work in refugee settlement.
She believed the services' innovative programs and projects, working at the grassroots to support multicultural communities to be the best they can be set it apart.
"We're thrilled to have gotten this award. We were nominated anonymously, so very thankful to whoever put in the nomination," Ms McInnes said.
"Last year about this time we received the Victorian multicultural award for excellence.
"It's just fantastic being recognised in a number of fields for our work at a quite prestigious level. We do feel like the work that we do is very much best practice."
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