Greater Shepparton's Lutfiye Kavci and Vicki Scott are two of the 24 most recent inductees into the Victorian Women's Honour Roll. They are pictured at the induction ceremony on September 2 at the Arts Centre Melbourne.
Two Shepparton women are among exceptional company on a list of 24 Victorians inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women this week.
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Family violence survivor and advocate Lutfiye Kavci and community leader and ambassador Vicki Scott were announced as new inductees by the Victorian Women’s Minister Natalie Hutchins at a ceremony at Arts Centre Melbourne on September 2.
The honour roll recognises outstanding Victorian women whose leadership and achievements make a lasting difference to the community.
Lutfiye Kavci was inducted into the Emerging Leader category.
Photo by
Bree Harding
After Ms Kavci survived an attempted murder on a residential Shepparton street in 2021, the mother and community services student dedicated herself to family violence and homelessness advocacy.
She has helped organise rallies, been a guest speaker at several events and worked with the Victims of Crime Commissioner Lived Experience Advisory Group.
Ms Kavci said it meant “a lot” to be recognised.
“All awards have a different meaning for me, and this one, for being an ‘emerging leader’ shows how important it is to show the true face of what a lived experience of domestic violence can be,” she said.
“I aim to spread awareness in a raw, real and confronting way.”
Vicki Scott was inducted in the Local Champion category.
Photo by
Lauren Formica
She has also become a GenesisCare consumer advocate for people with cancer.
She is involved with many community-based organisations, including the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project, which works with the wider community to improve outcomes for young people.
Dedicated to working with diverse communities and promoting equity and inclusion, Ms Scott was inducted into the Local Champion category.
She said receiving the honour was humbling.
“When you do things, you do things because you just want to do things, so getting acknowledged in this way is not even in your brain,” Ms Scott said.
“So to be acknowledged this way enables time to reflect on the things you’ve been involved with.”
Ms Scott said the diversity on display at the brief Tuesday night ceremony “felt right”.
“To see the breadth of women recognised and involvement through STEM, ag science, major fundraising, research, advocacy; it was quite amazing,” she said.
“I left even further inspired after learning about 23 other amazing women in this state.”
Both Ms Scott and Ms Kavci are proud that Greater Shepparton is being recognised for producing impressive people who do impressive things.
“Even in small regional towns, we can have such a big impact,” Ms Kavci said.
“Not just us, but many people are making change with their work in the community here.”
Victoria’s first female Premier, the late Joan Kirner, created the honour roll to formally acknowledge women for their achievements and to encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
More than 770 women have been added since the Victorian Honour Roll of Women began in 2001.
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