Seymour public housing tenant Alice Solomon has received the prestigious 2006 Frances Penington Award.

The award, presented each year since 1998 as part of Housing Week, recognised the outstanding contribution of a public or community-managed housing tenant to the Victorian community.

Minister for Housing Candy Broad said Ms Solomon's list of volunteering activities made her an outstanding recipient of the award and an excellent ambassador for the Seymour community.

'Ms Solomon was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the Aboriginal group, Jaambi, and youth communities of Seymour,' Ms Broad said.

'Her generosity, compassion and dedication to the community were just some of the qualities that helped her win the coveted Frances Penington Award and I am proud to be able to acknowledge her exceptional role in helping to build a strong and vibrant public housing community.'

Described by members of the Seymour community as the heart and soul of the township, Ms Solomon is passionate about children's education, volunteering as a children's story-teller at Seymour Library.

She also presents a youth-focused daily radio program on Seymour community radio and is an active participant in Seymour's Neighbourhood Renewal homework program.

Ms Broad acknowledged all 30 award nominees in a special ceremony at Queen's Hall, Parliament House.

'The Frances Penington Award acknowledges the contribution and achievements of public housing tenants in Victoria and is just one way we can acknowledge individuals and thank them personally.'

Judges of the Award included MP Janice Munt, Volunteering Victoria Chief Executive Officer Dianne Embry, Vicki Giosis from the Herald and Weekly Times as well as representatives from the Office of Housing.

The panel also selected five other nominees for special commendation—Dianne Lloyd from Colac, Les Devine from Broadmeadows, Edith Collins from Glenroy, Dawn Mace from Warrnambool and Leanne and Stephen Mottram from Shepparton.