In the space of a few months Cherie Dear endured a heart-wrenching double loss.
The culprit was pancreatic cancer, and it's victims her father and her husband, AFL legend Paul Dear.
The mother-of-four managed to channel her immense grief into Dare to Hope - the cancer research charity she and her late husband co-founded to bring much-needed awareness towards a disease that claims 4000 Australian lives each year.
In the years since the Hawthorn great's 2022 death, the Dare to Hope match has become an annual Easter Monday blockbuster between the Hawks and the Geelong Cats, drawing in more than 80,000 fans to raise crucial funds.
Mrs Dear's relentless work to create a national platform for pancreatic cancer awareness and research struck a chord with National Australia Day Council's selection panel, who named her Victoria's winner in the 2027 Australian of the year Awards in Melbourne on Thursday night.
“Cherie has turned personal loss into a determination to find answers to pancreatic cancer," National Australia Day Council chief executive Carrie Leeson said.
“The Victorian recipients are inspiring examples of how personal experience can drive change."
The Bayside campaigner and three other Victorians will join those from other states and territories next year for the national awards.
Nominated for Senior Australian of the year after taking out the Victorian category is autism researcher, advocate and author Wenn Lawson.
Professor Lawson spent years in and out of mental health institutions misdiagnosed with schizophrenia before he was finally diagnosed with autism aged 42.
The now 74-year-old has used the decades since to publish 30 books and international guides raising awareness about understanding autism and neurodivergence.
The Young Australian of the Year for Victoria is Ryan Brigham, who founded healthcare education charity Health in Focus as a 21-year-old.
Years of hospitalisations and more than 10 operations inspired the now 27-year-old to help provide more than $500,000 worth of health initiatives in Australia and overseas.
In Victoria, the not-for-profit runs mobile cardiac screening clinics offering free heart health assessments to promote early detection of cardiovascular disease.
The Australian of the Year Awards spotlighted Horsham mechanic Gavin Hynam as its Local Hero for Victoria.
The 65-year-old donates his time and skills to working on second-hand cars in the Wimmera which he services and then gives to young people in need.
Mr Hynam also volunteers with Victoria's free learner driver program L2P, volunteering his time to supervise learner drivers before gifting them their first car and six months' registration once they obtain their license.
The council said Mr Hynman's generosity has allowed many young regional Victorians the chance to go to university, apply for jobs or support their families by having a safe, reliable car.
The 2027 Australian of the Year Awards will be held in Canberra on January 25.
AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD STATE AND TERRITORY WINNERS:
ACT: Human rights advocate Martin Hodgson
NSW: Marine scientist and communicator Vanessa Pirotta
WA: Telehealth innovator Esther Oh
NT: Diabetes educator Helen Lambech
QLD: To be announced Monday
SA: Endo-gynaecologist and reconstructive surgeon Fariba Behnia-Willison
VIC: Pancreatic cancer research advocate Cherie Dear
TAS: To be announced on Friday
