Operator of the Year

Sponsored by VicWater

This is one of the most prestigious awards on offer at the Victorian conference with the award presented continuously since 1980. The award is presented to operators of water or wastewater treatment facilities to recognise excellent performance, initiative and all-around attention to detail.

Criteria

Nominations are sought annually from Water Authorities and water companies throughout Victoria for operators who meet the following criteria:

  • Nominees should be working in Victoria and should have direct responsibility for operational decisions at community water, sewer or recycled water systems/networks and/or water, wastewater or recycled water treatment plants or industrial water or wastewater plants.
  • Nominees should have demonstrated a continued high level of performance, initiative and all-around attention to detail in the execution of their duties.

Submitting your nomination 

Nominations should be submitted electronically in Word or PDF format. They must include the following information:

  • An executive summary outlining the main reason for the nomination (maximum 500 words)
  • Detailed information introducing the nominee and addressing the criteria (maximum 4 A4 pages)
  • Two Photos (jpg or similar format) – one headshot of the nominee, and one image of the nominee working
  • Biography (minimum 180 words, maximum 300 words)

The completed applications are judged by an independent panel and the winner of the Victorian Operator of the Year Award is announced at the WIOA Conference Awards Dinner annually.

The winner receives:

  • a personal trophy to keep
  • All expenses paid opportunity to attend WIOA’s annual Tour of New Zealand and the WIOG Conference.

Wal Whiteside Victorian Operator of the Year  – Honour Roll

YEAR CONFERENCE VENUE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR EMPLOYER
2023 Bendigo Scott Johnson Greater Western Water
2022 Bendigo Tom Stiles Central Highlands Water
2021 WIOA Reconnects – Online Gavin Allen Veolia
2020 Virtual Water – Online Dion Bull Gippsland Water
2019 Bendigo Lee Marshall Central Highlands Water
2018 Bendigo Adam Panozzo North East Water
2017 Bendigo Glenn Taggart Central Highlands Water
2016 Bendigo Rylee Duffus Westernport Water
2015 Bendigo Steve Letcher Central Highlands Water
2014 Bendigo Colin Mynott South East Water
2013 Bendigo Stephen O’Keeffe Goulburn Valley Water
2012 Bendigo Nick Stuart Melbourne Water
2011 Bendigo Greg Comer Goulburn Valley Water
2010 Bendigo John DeBoer Melbourne Water
2009 Bendigo Steve Hunter Veolia Water Australia
2008 Bendigo Jeff Roscoe North East Water
2007 Bendigo Owen Roberts South East Water
2006 Bendigo Rod Curtis Western Water
2005 Bendigo Simon McCracken Barwon Water
2004 Wodonga Peter Tolsher Anglian Water
2003 Shepparton Gerrard Barry Western Water
2002 Geelong Paul Keating Gippsland Water
2001 Bendigo Roland Passuello North East Water
2000 Warrnambool Neil Healey Goulburn Valley Water
1999 Wodonga Russell Mack Gippsland Water
1998 Shepparton George Wall Goulburn Valley Water
1997 Bairnsdale Ray Crilly Yarra Valley Water
1996 Geelong Sean Meehan/Phil Keady Barwon Water & Westernport Water
1995 Mulwala Barry Waddell East Gippsland Water
1994 Melbourne Colin Sandeman
1993 Ballarat John Harris
1992 Bendigo Wayne Murdoch
1991 Sale B.Cook
1990 Hamilton Mark Closter
1989 Shepparton Peter Waddell
1988 Warrnambool E.Deugd
1987 Ringwood John Phyland
1986 Wodonga T.Hanna
1985 Swan Hill Len Morris
1984 Bairnsdale C.D’Herville
1983 Melton L.Wyhoon
1982 Mount Elisa R.Emmet/E.Jones
1981 Mildura Sue Lefevre
1980 Geelong Stan Franzi

Young Operator of the Year

Sponsored by IWA

This award, generously sponsored by the Institute of Water Administration (Victoria) is designed to provide encouragement to young water industry employees by recognising excellent performance, initiative and all round attention to detail.

The IWA as award sponsor sends a letter to all Water Corporations and other employers of operators within Victoria annually, requesting they nominate “operations staff” to be considered for the Award.

To be eligible for consideration the nominees:

  • Must be employed in the Victorian water industry and be aged under 30 years
  • Must have been employed in the water industry for less than 5 years

Nominations are judged on the basis of submissions from employers covering:

  1. Commitment to and demonstrating a strong OHS ethic in all work performed
  2. Commitment to undertaking training and then implementation of skills learned into the workplace
  3. Commitment to team work and following enterprise SOP’s etc
  4. Commitment to meeting Corporation and regulatory requirements in the course of all work
  5. Demonstrated use of initiative or suggestions leading to efficiency or safety improvements
  6. Any other relevant industry based achievements.

Please provide the following with your nomination:

  1. One headshot image of the nominee (jpg or similar format)
  2. One image of the nominee at work (jpg or similar format)

The completed applications are judged by an independent panel and the winner of the IWA Prize receives a perpetual trophy for his or her organisation to keep for 12 months, a personal trophy to keep permanently, as well as an all expenses paid trip to join the WIOA Delegation on the New Zealand Tour.

Year Venue IWA Prize Winner  Employer
2023 Bendigo Bailey Andersen Goulburn Valley Water
2022 Bendigo Tom Bennett Barwon Water
2021 WIOA Reconnects – Online Lillee Hardy Gippsland Water
2020 Virtual Water – Online Michael Tulloch Gippsland Water
2019 Bendigo Tom O’Brien North East Water
2018 Bendigo Tabatha James Melbourne Water
2017 Bendigo Mae Jobson Gippsland Water
2016 Bendigo Will Egan South Gippsland Water
2015 Bendigo Ben Marsden Wannon Water
2014 Bendigo Jacob Bright South Gippsland Water
2013 Bendigo Aaron Mitchell East Gippsland Water
2012 Bendigo Glen Sheekey Gippsland Water
2011 Bendigo Michael Wright Veolia Water
2010 Bendigo Andrew Cooper Goulburn-Murray Water
2009 Bendigo Lee Franke North East Water
2008 Bendigo Adrian Rijnbeek EGL Operations
2007 Bendigo Craig Atwell Wannon Water
2006 Bendigo Jason McGregor Central Highlands Water
2005 Bendigo Jarrah Feather East Gippsland Water

Network Operator of the Year

Sponsored by Water Training Australia

The Network Operator Development Program has been established to identify, mentor and develop future leaders in the Network Operations field across the Victorian Water Industry.

The Program Advisory Committee will select one participant each year to be awarded the WIOA Network Operator of the Year. The winner will be announced at the WIOA Conference Awards Dinner.

The winner will receive sponsorship to the value of $3,000 provided by Water Training Australia, which must be used on an appropriate development opportunity for the winner. Participants will be encouraged to, and given the opportunity to, attend the annual WIOA conference and be involved in a technical paper or poster presentation at that conference.

Year Venue Network Operator of the Year  Employer
2023 Bendigo TBC Announced
Thursday 29 February 2024
2022 Bendigo Gavin Overy East Gippsland Water
2020-2021 Bendigo Matthew Boyle Wannon Water
2019 Bendigo Benjamin Paul North East Water
2018 Bendigo Tim Kiddle Barwon Water
2017 Bendigo Russell Sunderland Goulburn Valley Water

NETWORK OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

The winner will be determined from the Network Operator Development Program participants.

Best Operator Paper – Victorian Conference

Sponsored by Grundfos

These are presented as an incentive to encourage “grass roots” operational staff to share their knowledge and experience. To be eligible, the author must NOT hold a tertiary (Bachelor level) qualification.

WIOA selects a number of judges at each conference who watch all the presentations made over the two days. They score each of the papers based on:

  • The content and layout of the written paper;
  • The originality of the ideas portrayed;
  • The use of visual aids during the presentation;
  • The verbal presentation and whether or not the author sticks to the allotted time; and
  • The demeanor of the presenter including how well they answer any questions.

At the completion of the paper sessions, the scores are tallied and the winners determined.

1st Place:  Travel, accommodation and a full delegate registration to attend another WIOA conference in Australia to deliver the paper again (to the value of $1,750)

2nd Place: Complimentary delegate registration (non-transferrable) to a WIOA conference of their choice within the next 12 months (valued at $750)

3rd Place:  Complimentary delegate registration (non-transferrable) to a WIOA conference of their choice within the next 12 months (valued at $750)

Year  First Second Third
2023 Troy Leyden
Rockhampton Regional Council
Doug Moorby & Jon Wright
Narromine Shire Council & Infinite Water
Shawn Charlton
Albury City Council
2022 John DeBoer
Melbourne Water
Grant Waite
North East Water
Darren Sharman
Goulburn Valley Water
2021 Event Not Held (Covid)
2020 Event Not Held (Covid)
2019 Craig Piazza
North East Water
Shekiah Inglis
Melbourne Water
Jamie Rossato
North East Water
2018 Paul Beard
Water Corporation, WA
Scott Whitehead
Goulburn Valley Water
Simon Palframan
North East Water
2017 John Day
North East Water
David Bedggood
North East Water
Peter Field
Central Highlands Water
2016 John deBoer
Melbourne Water
Vin Halloran & Daniel Fitzpatrick
Yarra Valley Water
Steven Newham
Goulburn Valley Water
2015 Peter Tolsher
North East Water
Lincoln Thomson & Gwyn Hatton
Barwon Water
Daniel Haworth
Downer
2014 Steven Newham
Goulburn Valley Water
Neville Whittaker
Goulburn Valley Water
Andrew Barnett
Water Infrastructure Group
2013 Jarrah Feather
East Gippsland Water
Peter Murphy
Yarra Valley Water
Daniel Haworth
Tenix
2012 Mick Clewes
North East Water
Aaron Sewell
North East Water
Rhett Chapman
Yarra Valley Water
2011 Darren Sharman
Goulburn Valley Water
Wayne Shaw
Gippsland Water
Peter Field
Central Highlands Water
2010 Tony McKean
East Gippsland Water
Wayne Shaw
Gippsland Water
John Day
Goulburn Valley Water
2009 Greg Comer
North East Water
Gwynn Hatton
Barwon Water
Bert Pynappels
GWM Water
2008 Rex Humphreys
North East Water
Russell Mack
Gippsland Water
Craig Griggs
Kingborough Council, Tas
2007 John Cameron
Southern Rural Water
Greg Hall
Goulburn Valley Water
David Reyne
Central Highlands Water
2006 Jason McGregor
Central Highlands Water
Paul Balassone
Melbourne Water
Ian Syer
us‘ – Utility Services
2005 Jarrah Feather
East Gippsland Water
Jason Whittaker
Goulburn Valley Water
Jeff Nock
Aqwest WA
2004 Jason Whittaker
Goulburn Valley Water
Bruce Tyler
North East Water
Jason McGregor
Central Highlands Water
2003 John Day
Norske-Skog
Michael Naughton
Barwon Water
Neil Healey
Goulburn Valley Water
2002 Anthony Evans
South West Water
David Reyne
Central Highlands Water
Jeff Roscoe
North East Water
2001 Wes Wittick
Western Water
Len Ablett
Gippsland Water
Roland Passuello
North East Water
2000 George Wall
Goulburn Valley Water
John Harris
South West Water
Gavan Keir
Goulburn Valley Water
1999 Peter Tolsher
North East Water
John Berkelmans
South East Water
No prize awarded
1998 Russell Mack
Gippsland Water
John Day
Aust. Newsprint Mills
Phil de Groot
North West Water, SA
1997 Neil Healey
Goulburn Valley Water
John Berkelmans
South East Water
Chris Andrew
Nestle, Tongala
1996 Sean Meehan
Barwon Water
Ross Barton
Barwon Water
Peter Ebner
Lower Murray Water
1995 Dene Denny
Barwon Water
George Wall
Goulburn Valley Water
Stephen Wilson
WTC
1994 Ray Watson
Gippsland Water
Ray James
Gippsland Water
1993 George Wall
Goulburn Valley Water
Ray James
Gippsland Water
Graham Abbott
Gippsland Water
1992 Wayne Murdoch
Coliban Water

Hepburn Award for Best Paper Overall – Victorian Conference

Sponsored by Aqualift

This prize is an Open category award with all Platform paper presenters eligible to win. By using the votes from the platform paper judges, the presenter with the highest number of votes will receive the Hepburn Award for the Best Paper Overall at the conference.

The winner will receive travel, accommodation and a full delegate registration to attend another WIOA conference in Australia to deliver the paper again (to the value of $1,750).

Year Conference Venue Hepburn Prize
2023 Bendigo Elise O’Keeffe
Goulburn Valley Water
2022 Bendigo Tasha Eagle
Parchem Construction/Fosroc
2021 Not Held (Covid)
2020 Not Held (Covid)
2019 Bendigo Craig Piazza
North East Water
2018 Bendigo Michael Chapman
North East Water
2017 Bendigo John Day
North East Water
2016 Bendigo Ben Pohlner
Wannon Water
2015 Bendigo David Greaves
Barwon Water
2014 Bendigo Alister Laidlaw
North East Water
2013 Bendigo Catherine Huf
Wannon Water
2012 Bendigo Mei-Leng Yau
Parsons Brinckerhoff
2011 Bendigo Darren Sharman
Goulburn Valley Water
2010 Bendigo Kathy Northcott
Veolia Water Australia
2009 Bendigo Greg Comer
Goulburn Valley Water
2008 Bendigo David Errey
Yarra Valley Water
2007 Bendigo Mark Samblebe
Gippsland Water
2006 Bendigo Jason McGregor
Central Highlands Water
2005 Bendigo Mark Jarvis
Melbourne Water
2004 Wodonga Jason Whittaker
Goulburn Valley Water
2003 Shepparton John Day
Norske Skog
2002 Geelong Anthony Evans
South West Water
2001 Bendigo Andrew Chapman
2000 Warrnambool Michelle Colwell
Gippsland Water
1999 Wodonga David McKenzie
1998 Shepparton Kimberley Davies
Goulburn Valley Water
1997 Bairnsdale Peter Smyth
1996 Geelong Sean Meehan
1995 Mulwala Dene Denny
Barwon Water
1994 Melbourne C. Schulz
1993 Ballarat George Wall
Shepparton Region Water Authority
1992 Bendigo Wayne Murdoch
Bendigo Water Board
1991 Sale R. Wrigley
1990 Hamilton John Park
Water Training Centre
1986 Swan Hill Ron Bergmeier
Bendigo Water Board
1983 Melton John Anderson
Sunbury
1982 Mount Eliza K. Brown
Hurstbridge
1981 Mildura Sue Lefebvre
Mornington
1980 Geelong Carl D’Herrille
Packenham
1979 Ballarat David Orbell
Melton Sewerage Authority
1978 MMBW Offices R. Emmett
1977 Bendigo Lindsay Whitelaw
Mooroopna
1976 MMBW Offices N. Phyland
1975 MMBW Offices Stan Franzi & F. Manning

E. A. Hepburn

First appointed to the Public Health Department as Assistant Inspector and Engineer and promoted to Sanitary Engineer, later classified as Chief Engineer. He was the convener and delivered the first paper at the First Annual Conference Sewerage Engineers and Operators.

Best Operator Poster Award – Victorian Conference

Sponsored by IWES – The University of Queensland

It was recognised some time ago that not all “operations” staff feel comfortable with the idea of standing up in front of their peers and delivering a platform presentation. Others have an idea or a project they have completed which does not provide sufficient information to allow for a written paper and a 20 minute presentation. For these reasons, a Poster Paper section was introduced into the program for the various WIOA conferences.

The Posters use the same qualifying rules as the Papers (non-Bachelor qualified). Each poster author is required to do a short (5 minute) description of their poster in a more relaxed atmosphere on Thursday afternoon. They must also answer any questions about the poster.

Bachelor qualified water professionals are also invited to enter a poster for information sharing however, they will not be eligible to win the prizes.

At the completion of the poster judging session, the winners are determined and the winners of the Best Poster Papers will be awarded an all expenses paid opportunity to attend an Interstate WIOA conference (to the value of $1,750)

Year  First Second Third
2023 Li Lau
Melbourne Water
2022 Steven Kugele
Central Highlands Water
2021 Not Held (Covid)
2020 Not Held (Covid)
2019 David Dickson
North East Water
2018 Scott Murnane
Veolia
2017 Chris Orchard
Central Highland Water
Danny West
Westernport Water
No Entries Received
2016 Dale Hogan
Goulburn Valley Water
Andrew Povey
Wannon Water
Damian Peterson
Western Water
2015 Noel Roulston
Westernport Water
Justin Bourke
North East Water
Leigh Cheshire
North East Water
2014 Aaron Mitchell
Wannon Water
Stephen Burns
GWM Water
Russell Sunderland
Goulburn Valley Water
2013 Ben Marsden
Wannon Water
Rylee Duffus
Gippsland Water
Adam Bauerle
Goulburn Valley Water
2012 Matthew Brown
Barwon Water
Daniel Priddle
Barwon Water
Grant Chivers
Veolia Water Operations
2011 Terry Watt
East Gippsland Water
Geoff Enever
Goulburn-Murray Water
Daryl Nish
us‘ – Utility Services
2010 Ian Syer
us‘ – Utility Services
Tony McKean
East Gippsland Water
Chris Spokes
Goulburn Valley Water
2009 Peter Tolsher
EGL (Operations)
Sean Doyle
Barwon Water
Bill Mackrell
Wannon Water
2008 Trevor Hayes
Western Water
Barry Dullard
CAMS
Heath Vine
Goulburn Valley Water
2007 Dale Yeates
Gippsland Water
Andrew McPherson
Coliban Water
Rachael Lawlor
Goulburn Valley Water
2006 John Day
PowerWater NT
Tim Tanner
Goulburn Valley Water
Bob Millar
GWM Water
2005 Barry Waddell
East Gippsland Water
Belinda Streader
Goulburn Valley Water
Lou Wilson
us‘ – Utility Services
2004 Karl Williams
South Gippsland Water
Helen Friend
GWM Water
Ron Peters
South East Water
2003 Gerrard Kavenagh
Barwon Water
Jamie Madgwick
Goulburn Valley Water
Peter Huggins
Goulburn Valley Water
2002 Len Ablett
Gippsland Water
Wayne Mumford
Gippsland Water
Wayne Reither
Goulburn Valley Water
2001 Trevor Gordon
Goulburn Valley Water
Neil Collins
Goulburn Valley Water
Wayne Shaw
Gippsland Water
2000 Ken Turner
Gippsland Water
Ben Evans
South East Water
Karen Weatherill
Goulburn Valley Water
1999 Karen Weatherill
Goulburn Valley Water
Richard Greenhough
Barwon Water
Wes Wittick
Western Water
1998 Ray James
Gippsland Water
Paul Keating
Gippsland Water
Peter Marshall
Gippsland Water

Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Victoria

Sponsored by Ixom

The search for the best tasting tap water in Victoria?

The Ixom Victorian Water Taste Test is a fun and exciting way to raise awareness of the quality of Victoria’s drinking water and to recognise the efforts of local water service providers in delivering valuable water services to their communities.

The event will be conducted at the WIOA Victorian Conference and Exhibition to be held in Bendigo with entries needing to be at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre by 4pm on Tuesday.  The winner will go on to represent Victoria in the National Championships.


2022 – WaterSure – Vic Desal Plant
2022
 – Melbourne Water – Cresswell WTP
2021
– Westernport Water – Ian Bartlett Water Purification Plant (IBWPP)
2020 – Lower Murray Water – Mildura WTP
2019 – Barwon Water – Wurdee Boluc WTP
2018
– Wannon Water – Hamilton WTP (Also won 2018 Australia’s Best Tasting Tap Water)
2017
– Goulburn Valley Water – Merrijig WTP
2016
– North East Water – Myrtelford WTP
2015 – Goulburn Valley Water – Marysville WTP (Also won 2015 Australia’s Best Tasting Tap Water)
2014 – South Gippsland Water – Leongatha WTP
2013 – East Gippsland Water – Bairnsdale WTP
2012 – Coliban Water – Bendigo WTP


About the Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Victoria

Eligibility

  1. All water businesses in Victoria are invited to participate in the Ixom Best Tasting Tap Water in Victoria.
  2. Each water business is asked to nominate one preferred sample for inclusion in the competition.
  3. Where businesses operate multiple water supply systems, the decision regarding which water sample to enter is left up to each water business.
  4. All entries must have incurred no serious state or federal drinking water violations during the past year*.

Requirements

  1. Samples must be submitted by 4.00pm on Tuesday in a clearly marked container with the name of the water business it represents and the location/town from where the sample is derived.
  2. We require 3 litres of the sample water which must be provided in a sealed container.
  3. Samples need to be delivered to the conference venue at room temperature. Cooled samples will not be admitted.
  4. Samples will be served at room temperature, to help the judges better taste, appreciate and rank each sample.

Competition Judging

Heats

  1. Heats will be conducted at the WIOA Welcome Reception held in the afternoon (from 4.45pm-6.00pm) of Tuesday at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre.
  2. The competition will be divided into heats, with entries placed in each heat randomly drawn by WIOA staff.
  3. Each heat will have a heat coordinator.
  4. Heat judging will be undertaken by guests at the welcome reception who shall taste all samples and select their most favoured water sample by giving it one vote.
  5. The sample with the most votes will be judged the heat winner and the winner will proceed to the Grand Final to be held on the main stage during the conference lunch break on Wednesday afternoon.
  6. In the case of a tie in the heats, the winner will be chosen by the heat coordinator from those that are tied.
  7. The four Grand Finalists will be announced on Tuesday evening and we would appreciate a representative from each business being available for the main judging on Wednesday and at the winner’s presentation at the Awards Dinner on Thursday evening.

Grand Final

  1. As with the heats, the origin of each sample will not be revealed. The samples will be judged by a panel nominated by WIOA comprising technical water experts and water industry connoisseurs.
  2. Samples will be judged on a point scale from good to best.
  3. Scores will be aggregated and the winner will be the sample with the highest combined score. The winning water business and water supply location will be announced at the lunch on Wednesday and the presentation made at the WIOA Conference Awards Dinner on Thursday night.
  4. Only the identity of the four grand finalists and the supplier of the winning sample will be announced – Grand Final or Heat samples will not be ranked, nor will any of the scores be released.
  5. The decision of the judges is final.

*A “serious” water quality incident includes protracted periods of poor water quality or boiled water alerts, an event leading to immediate potential public health risks or other break-down of risk-management protocols.

For more information, please contact the WIOA Office on 03 5821 6744, or email info@wioa.org.au