Outgoing chief well being officer Brett Sutton, who led a few of the nation’s harshest Covid lockdowns, has been named Victoria of the Year.
Professor Sutton rose to prominence as Victoria’s high well being officer throughout the Covid pandemic because the state confronted successive surges in infections.
In response, the state authorities applied harsh lockdowns on individuals and companies that drew controversy regardless of curbing deaths.
The Herald Sun reported Professor Sutton advised attendees at an award ceremony at Melbourne’s Town Hall on Friday that he was “profoundly sorry” for some selections made throughout the pandemic.
He described the gong as an acknowledgment of all Victorians for assembly challenges posed by Covid.
“I’m symbolic of all those difficult things we had to steer through as Victorians and the tough times brought us together … I obviously was a captain of the ship during stormy weather,” Professor Sutton mentioned.
“I understand that through those tough decisions there are always people who are going to be in much more difficult circumstances.
“I’m profoundly sorry for what people have gone through because of those decisions.
“I’m not sure I could have made much different (decisions) through all of those difficult choices.”
Asked his first response to being advised of the award, Professor Sutton mentioned: “I heard it through my office and I did say, ‘Can I decline?’
“I really didn’t feel like it was something for me to receive individually.
“If I can frame it as … a recognition of all Victorians, then I’m very happy to receive it on their behalf.”
Former Labor premier John Brumby described Professor Sutton on Friday as a “trusted public face” throughout the Covid pandemic.
“(Professor Sutton) was unquestionably the right person to perform one of the most difficult jobs at one of the most difficult times of our history, and he’s a very worthy Victorian of the Year,” he mentioned.
Conversely, the Herald Sun reported that opposition frontbencher David Davis, who additionally attended the ceremony, mentioned Professor Sutton had presided over a “very nasty trifecta” throughout the pandemic.
“He is part of the cover up of key information, and sadly, so many businesses were destroyed because of the mismanagement of Covid and the monumental cock-ups with hotel quarantine,” he mentioned.
Professor Sutton was the general public face of Victoria’s Covid response and amassed a cult following as an unlikely intercourse image, with fan pages and even a devoted calendar.
After three years because the state’s well being tsar, Professor Sutton revealed earlier this month that he could be resigning from the highest job.
Professor Sutton will as a substitute go away behind authorities employment for a job with the CSIRO as a director of well being and biosecurity.
The award comes amid a lowered footprint from this yr’s Victoria Day Awards, that are separate from the bigger Australia Day Awards.
The Herald Sun reported Victoria Day Council chairman Tony Cree thanked Professor Sutton for his “contribution to the community”.
“The council recognises people in the community that have gone above and beyond in their contribution to the community,” he mentioned.
“On behalf of the Victoria Day Council, I thank them and congratulate them on their truly outstanding achievements and their great work.
“I am thrilled they have been recognised in this way.”
Other award winners included Madeleine Buchner, who was named Young Victorian of the Year.
The Victoria Day Award for the Arts went to the Castlemaine Art Museum, whereas the Victorian Women’s Trust was additionally recognised.
Source: www.news.com.au
