Pauline Toner Award

La Trobe University, Melbourne established the Pauline Toner Award to honour the late Pauline Toner MP, a former student and notable citizen.

The Award, in the form of a cash prize is awarded annually to a student who has made a significant contribution to the University and/or the wider community in the fields related to Pauline Toner's work and service. The award also serves to remind us of the spirit in which Pauline Toner served her community and Victoria.
Toner is best remembered for her remarkable achievements and contributions to community: her concern in areas such as social issues, education and environmental conservation, her dedication to the task at hand and her sense of fairness.
Her achievements included breaking new ground for women in becoming the first female councillor and Shire president in Diamond Valley. She became the first woman to hold the Community Services portfolio; she was involved in reforming the prison system, initiated the first review of Children's Welfare legislation, backed women's neighbourhood houses and put Victoria in the forefront of adoption reform with the 1984 Adoption Act. The Adoption Network named their building in her honour.
Details for submitting applications are available from the website.

Related People

• Toner, Pauline (1935 - 1989)