Melissa Tumeo

When Melissa’s aunty was undergoing cancer treatment, she felt helpless and didn’t know what to do so she started singing and composing. She has gone on to use her singing and song writing to help charities and organisations such as Make-A-Wish, beyondblue, The Cancer Council and Relay for Life. One Dollar from each sale of her CD “The Long Way” goes to the Cancer Council.
She has received much recognition of her contribution to her community including:

Awarded Whittlesea Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year in 2013,
Semi-finalist at the 2014 Victorian Young Achiever awards, she was recognised for using her original music to help charities and organisations.
Nominee last year she for the Herald Sun Pride of Australia Award
State Finalist in the Battle of the Bands in 2010.
Nominee for three categories in the 2014 Channel 9 Young Achiever awards.
Ms Tumeo was appointed last year by former Premier Ted Baillieu as the youngest Arts Advisory Panel Member at Arts Victoria.

She performed an opening act for Olivia Newton John at The Wellness Walk in September last year.

Melissa was born and raised in Melbourne she grew up encased with both culture and music. Her father plays the drums in a band and her brother is a multi-instrumentalist.

When selected as a special guest performer for the Relay for Life event. She said “It’s about remembering those lost and about encouraging those fighting back.”

This year she is working on a self-funded White Ribbon – Violence against Women Awareness Campaign.

Melissa continues to perform her music across Melbourne, helping raise awareness and funds for various charities. She is an inspiration to us all.

The award was presented Sir James Gobbo

Don Rankin Chair of the Pitcher Partners National Association, then presented the Pitcher Partners Travelling Scholarship to Melissa