Johnson honoured as top Victorian
ACTOR and philanthropist Samuel Johnson was last night named the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year during an emotional ceremony at Government House.
Less than two months after the death of his beloved sister Connie to cancer, Johnson was recognised for his tireless efforts promoting awareness of the disease and raising more than $7 million for vital research.
Johnson fought back tears and said he was “beside himself” with nerves before the ceremony began but was comforted by the knowledge Connie was “smiling somewhere right now”.
“She’d be super proud,” Johnson said.
Well known for his extensive work in Australian television and radio, the Gold Logie winner has championed cancer research alongside his sister until her death last month.
Connie died aged 40 after a long-fought battle with breast cancer — just one day after receiving the Order of Australia medal.
The siblings, born just a year apart, founded the Love Your Sister charity in 2012 and in 2013 the actor rode a unicycle across Australia to fundraise and “kick cancer to the kerb”.
Johnson raised $1.75 million.
The Victorian award winners will join 32 state and territory recipients in the national awards to be held on January 25.
Professor Paul Zimmet AO was last night named Victorian Senior Australian of the Year for his work in the field of diabetes.
Local Hero went to engineer and prosthetic limb innovator Mat Bowtell, and the Victorian Young Australian was awarded to 17year-old transgender youth advocate, Georgie Stone.