Masons of Bendigo owner Sonia Anthony was nominated for the Southside Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Community Hero Award.

Some of Sonia's achievements can be found here:

The award acknowledges those individuals who make a significant contribution at a local level in regional and rural Victoria.

The business owner was recognised for her advocacy for local Bendigo hospitality businesses and those within the supply chain.

Sonia said she was shocked to hear of her nomination.

"I am just very grateful and it's nice people think to make the time to nominate me for this," she said.

"This is just a really lovely gesture."

From organising a weekly market to making a hospitality takeaway list, Sonia created a number of initiatives over the past 18 months to help local businesses.

"During the first lockdown, I was president of the farmers market at that point and I spent most of my time to ensure we could keep the market going and we ended up establishing a weekly Thursday market which was a good outcome," she said.

"Another lockdown, I did a doughnut fundraiser to raise money for Bendigo Foodshare, who have seen a drastic increase in demand for food relief, so I sold lots of doughnuts that were made at Masons and used the money to buy produce from the farmers market that then got donated.

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"Most recently, I put together a takeaway list, many venues geared up for a big weekend for the sheep and wool show and once that was cancelled, I thought it would be handy to have a resource to go to for takeaway options.

"We also got together with some traders and created a four-course degustation menu that was something different during the extended lockdown."

Sonia thanked the community for their ongoing support and for her nomination.

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"If these awards are a way to inspire people, sometimes you think what you do isn't very much but small gestures like putting together that takeaway menu for example can be recognised than that is great.

"If that can inspire someone to do something for their community then that is an awesome thing."

The Community Achievement Awards started in 2002 and are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout regional and rural Victoria.

All nominees and finalists receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate of encouragement for their nomination.

Finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner on Friday, December 17.

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