Media releases

Two Aboriginal leaders - Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People Justin Mohamed and passionate education advocate Aunty Jennifer Beer – are among those celebrated at the Federation University 2021 Alumni Awards.

The awards formally recognise the achievements of distinguished alumni of Federation University Australia and its predecessor institutions, with seven of the 11 awards presented to Ballarat recipients at a virtual ceremony last night.

In a first for the awards, a former student from Federation TAFE has been recognised, with internationally acclaimed award-winning chef Dallas Cuddy receiving the International Alumnus of the Year award.

In another first, Federation has launched a new Award for Community Service, which was presented to Aunty Jennifer Beer, whose work has been central in the recovery of Wergaia Language in the Wimmera Region of Victoria.

Ballarat recipients of the Federation University 2021 Alumni Awards are:

• Justin Mohamed - Alumnus of the Year
• Aunty Jennifer Beer - Alumni Award for Community Service
• Dallas Cuddy - International Alumnus of the Year                    
• Graeme Drendel - Distinguished Alumnus                               
• Laurence Murray Gillin - Distinguished Alumnus
• Dennis Charles Spielvogel - Distinguished Alumnus (Posthumous)                                                             

The annual Alumni Awards celebrate the recipients’ successes not only in their chosen fields of study, but their lives more broadly.

Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley

“Our alumni are part of the fabric of Federation University, and I am so pleased to congratulate this year’s award recipients.”

“I am particularly proud that we are able to celebrate the outstanding achievements of three Aboriginal leaders from the Ballarat region, who have made a lasting contribution to our community.”

“It is also great to be able to recognise the achievements of Dallas Cuddy, our first ever Federation TAFE alumni award recipient, who has made a name for himself not only in Australia as a leading chef, but also on the world stage.”