Actor Samuel Johnson has been named the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year, for his work raising funds for cancer research.
Johnson received the award during a ceremony in Melbourne on Thursday evening, along with winners in three other categories.
Johnson has won praise for his advocacy for cancer research since his sister Connie was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He rode 15,465 kilometres around Australia on a unicycle in 2013-14 — a world record — to raise funds for the Garvan Research Foundation.
He and his sister later founded a new organisation, Love Your Sister, which has raised more than $7 million for cancer research.
Connie Johnson died on September 8.
The award caps a big year for Johnson, who also won the Gold Logie for his performance as Molly Meldrum.
But the actor has promised to put his career on hold until Love My Sister raises $10 million.
The four Victorian recipients will join a group of 32 state and territory recipients at the national awards ceremony in Canberra on January 25.
The Australians of the Year will be announced at that ceremony.
Scientist at the forefront of diabetes research
Diabetes specialist Professor Paul Zimmet, 75, was named Victorian Senior Australian of the Year.
Professor Zimmet has worked in the field for 40 years, including studies in the 1980s which predicted the current global epidemic of type-2 diabetes.
He established the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne in 1984, the first institute in Australia to concentrate on diabetes, and has been praised for his work convincing governments and health organisations of the disease's impact.
Forging a path for transgender youth
Georgie Stone, 17, was named Victorian Young Australian of the Year for her work campaigning for transgender youth.
At the age of 10, Ms Stone became the youngest person in Australia to be granted permission by a court to take hormone blockers, the first stage of medical treatment for transgender children.
She is credited with driving progress in health and medical services, access to safe schooling environments and legal reforms.
She has previously appeared on Four Corners and Australian Story.
Innovator brings new hope
Engineer Mat Bowtell was named Victorian Local Hero for his work in prosthetic limb innovation.
Mr Bowtell designs and makes open-source prosthetic devices for people who cannot afford them.
He has made his designs freely available online.
