Dunkeld Kindergarten was also in the spotlight, winning the state sustainability award recognising efforts to teach children environmental appreciation and healthy outdoor activities.

About 350 guests attended the presentation ceremony for nine category winners at Etihad Stadium.

Peter’s Project was established in 2009 to get a radiotherapy treatment centre in Warrnambool so south-west patients did not have to travel hours away from their family for treatment.

It was named after Ms Jellie’s late husband Peter who died of cancer after numerous trips to Melbourne treatment centres.

A fund-raising committee headed by Ms Jellie raised $5m in nine months to support a $15m commitment from the state government and $10m from Canberra.

Construction on the Ryot Street site is expected to start early next year.

Ms Jellie devoted at least 20 hours a week to the cause for four years while holding down a regular job and 70-plus hours weekly after going full-time to the cause in 2013.

The project board and committee plus other volunteers also devoted countless hours in fund-raising.

In her summary notes for the award judges, Ms Jellie said “we had endless knockbacks from government departments and also even some community members who did not think there was a need for improved cancer services in our region.

"Ordinary people working together to achieve great things — nothing is impossible.”

The achiever category was sponsored by South West TAFE and Deakin University represented by deputy vice-chancellor Professor Gary Smith who presented the award to Ms Jellie and other members of the project team.

Dunkeld bush kindergarten initiative started last year with children taken on camping excursions once a fortnight into the Piccaninny area of the  Grampians National Park.