Mr Hutchison has lived in Ararat almost his entire life and has left an indelible mark on the town and its people.

He is known to many for spending about two decades helping the town's most desperate as president of Ararat Emergency Relief, but his contributions date back even further.

"Probably the first lot of charity stuff I got involved in was building the olympic pool," Mr Hutchison said.

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"I was probably the youngest person on the committee when it was being built.

"Every Sunday we would be there with a group of blokes making concrete in a big mixer and tipping it into a barrel which I would have to wheel to the side.

"I would also be the only person alive whose name was on the mortgage for the Salvation Hall when it was built by the Methodist Church. I was in my early 20s."

Mr Hutchison would later go on to become a significant part of Ararat Emergency Relief, formerly Ararat Assistance and Advisory Centre.

He said his role at the charity expanded quickly.

"About 30 years ago the then Uniting Church minister said 'would you help out on the roster when we do Emergency Relief,'" Mr Hutchison recalled.

"I said 'yes' and within about three years I was into organising it and taking it over."

Ararat Emergency Relief helps people in need by providing vouchers, food hampers, and emergency accommodation.

In the past two years alone it has helped about 800 different people.

Mr Hutchison said he has long understood the charity to be vital.

"I've always sought to get the recognition that Ararat Emergency Relief required and deserved."

Mr Hutchison's passion for helping others is paired with great humility.

After being at the helm of Ararat Emergency Relief for so long, and overseeing the charity's growth, he decided it would benefit from a more modern approach and decided to step down as president.

"I gave it away about 18-months ago because digital technology has left me," he said.

"I'm still living in the past, unfortunately."

However, Mr Hutchison remains vice president.

He said he gets immense satisfaction from contributing in various ways, such as helping people who are desperate for a place to stay.

"I'm proud I've been able to form a good rapport with some hotels and motels," he said.

"I get a bit of a kick out of when people I've helped see me or come and say 'hello'."

Young Citizen of the Year

Following Mr Hutchison's legacy of starting early is Young Citizen of the Year Zacary Nunan.

At 18, Mr Nunan decided to do something unique in his gap year: start a business.

Mr Nunan's Barkly Street store, Trading with Zac, sells games, clothes, pop culture trinkets, and more.

Mr Nunan has also served the community by providing free masks and sanitiser to those who need them during the pandemic, and employing some of his less advantaged peers to give them valuable skills and mentoring.

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The Resilience Award was given to disability service provider Pinnacle Inc.

Pinnacle chief executive officer Kathryn Clayton said the award was recognition of the immense efforts of the organisation's staff during COVID-19.

"What COVID meant for our service was working within the house's where people lived," she said.

"Staff have had to learn new routines, activities and locations to try and ensure the client's mental health stays positive."

"They had to restrict movement. They weren't able to engage with other staff and keep normal hours of work."

Ms Clayton said the staff met these challenges with unbridled commitment.

"Some were sacrificing other jobs in other locations and sacrificing their own social contacts to ensure they weren't outside the bubbles in which we were able to work.

The Business of the Year Award was given to Willaura Bakery, which similarly rose to the challenges of the pandemic.

The bakery has served the community throughout the pandemic.

Both its premises and Facebook have become a place for the Willaura locals to gather and socialise.

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