A Benalla boy, born and bred, he worked in the family menswear store on Bridge St before becoming involved in any civic body or organisation he could.
Those included being an active member of the Benalla Rotary Club, a Benalla City councillor, chair of the Regional Tourism Board for north-east Victoria, a trustee of the Benalla Public Cemetery, a director of the Festival of Roses and director of the Benalla Art Gallery.
Sadly, Mr Sullivan passed away in June, 2024.
His wife, George-Ann Sullivan, said it was lovely to hear he would be receiving this posthumous OAM just over one year later.
“It’s a pity he missed out on receiving it (in person),” she said.
“He would have been thrilled, and a bit humbled, I think.”
George-Ann said she was very proud.
“I haven’t been able to talk about it because it is embargoed, but I can speak to people next week,” she said.
“It’s been difficult to keep it a secret. But that’s one of the conditions of these awards, and you understand and respect it.”
George-Ann said for Victor, getting involved in the community was all part of how he was raised.
“He was involved in many things, but so were the whole Sullivan family,” she said.
“His grandfather started a business in Benalla, and his family were all involved in the town.
“As a country person, you’re bred to be involved in community, so it was just what he did.”
Victor was director of Benalla Art Gallery when it moved from premises in Nunn St to a new building nestled on the banks of what is now Lake Benalla.
“He was there when Laurie Ledger gave a sizeable donation, and I think council put money in too, to build the gallery,” George-Ann said.
“He was very proud to be involved in the gallery at that time.”
With a legacy already established in the Rose City, in 1975 Victor was given an opportunity to become chair of the Mildura Arts Centre.
“His father was retiring from the family menswear business, and he decided he didn’t really want to take over,” George-Ann said.
“So we moved to Mildura.”
Once there, Victor was quick to get involved in community life.
He, once again, joined Rotary, and would become president of the Mildura branch and a board member of the Mildura Base Hospital.
Over the years, the Sullivans would move several more times, and Victor became involved in community and civic groups in Carlton and on the Mornington Peninsula.
But he always took time out to take a trip home to Benalla.
“We were up and down all the time to Benalla while his mum was still alive,” George-Ann said.
“We still have friends there, and we had a chance to visit last year and went into the gallery.”
