Our Community Heroes

Our Community Heroes is an Our Community initiative designed to honour and celebrate some of the often unsung people who make a real difference to the community.

Your Community Heroes nominee could be an aged care worker who has gone an extra mile in looking after an elderly parent … a volunteer who coordinates a significant fundraising effort for a community group or cause … a community group stalwart who's clocked up decades of service to a group or a series of groups … A junior sports coach who turns up rain, hail and shine to teach and encourage and support … There are almost limitless examples!

Every month, we'll choose on Community Hero, who will be featured in the Our Community Matters newsletter and added to this website. They will also receive a Community Heroes certificate, plus a selection of Our Community books and a 12-month subscription to a range of Our Community newsletters.

Tell us who your Community Hero is by downloading a nomination form (Click here for a PDF version; Click here for a Word version), or copying the headings from the nomination form into an email or your own document.

You can return the form to us in any of three ways:

By Email: Email your nomination to lisar@ourcommunity.com.au
By Mail: Post to Community Heroes, PO Box 354, North Melbourne 3051
By Fax: Fax to (03) 9326 6859

For further information, telephone Lisa Reed on (03) 9320 6820, or email to lisar@ourcommunity.com.au.

July 2008

Our Community Hero: Trevor Brown

Nominated by: Paul Grigg

Congratulations to this month's Community Hero, Trevor Brown, an innovator, businessman and partnership builder who is really putting his money where his mouth is in his Blue Mountains community.

Trevor's nominator, Paul Grigg, writes:

"Eleven years ago Trevor established Respite Tours at Lawson in the Blue Mountains of NSW, a registered charity, to provide an alternative to centre-based respite care for people with acquired brain injury and intellectual disability. This provides holiday tours and day trips. Respite Tours has become so popular that they are always fully booked with a long waiting list.

"Another of Trevor's community projects is the Younger People in Nursing Homes Project. This project provides two social and recreational programs a week for approximately 30 younger people that currently reside in aged care facilities. With little or no access to age appropriate activities, the Younger People in Nursing Homes Project provides a consumer driven program. As the participants decide the direction and activities of the program, this always ensures it meets their needs and remains age appropriate.

"As there has been no government funding to date, Trevor turned his trade as a kitchen manufacturer to personally fund these programs. He established GWH Kitchens in Lawson and gives 100% of profits from this business to fund these community programs.

"He has personally inspired other members of the Blue Mountains business community to contribute to these projects and has established community partnerships with approximately 40 local businesses that now help support Respite Tours and the Younger People in Nursing Homes Project. Trevor was also the winner of the Blue Mountains Business Advantage Awards, Employer of the Year after being unanimously nominated by his staff.

"Trevor gained his inspiration through personal hardship. At 19 years of age he contracted viral encephalitis and was in a coma for some time. After he awoke he was left with no memory of his former life or family. At that time in his life he was given little hope of ever achieving much and his parents were offered the chance to house him in a nursing home. Since then, Trevor has achieved so much personally and in our local community and he is recognised throughout this region as one of our greatest local heroes."

April 2008

Our Community Hero: Helen Burrell.

Nominated by: Jodie Blackney

This month's community hero is Helen Burrell. Along with her husband David, Helen owns and runs the Leopold Wildlife Shelter and Rescue.

Helen specialises in hand raising the orphaned baby animals that David, a team of volunteers and the public bring to the shelter.

Word about the shelter's excellent work has spread and Helen helps to save on average 1500 animals each year. Kangaroos, koalas, possums, snakes, frogs and birds of all shapes and sizes are amongst the many creatures that have benefited from the dedication of Helen and the team.

The shelter also emphasises the importance of the preservation and protection of native endangered species. Helen and David take an active role in public education and provide training for others about how to safely rescue and care for native wildlife.

Helen's nominator, Jodie Blackney, stresses the 'physically, emotionally, and financially demanding' nature of the work Helen carries out.

This work is unpaid as the shelter has no outside source of funding but despite the challenges, Helen's commitment to saving and protecting Australia's native animals has never wavered.

March 2008

Our Community Hero: Sharon Stead

Nominated by: Pauline Robertson

Congratulations to Marist Youth Care (MYC) worker Sharon Stead, who has been selected as this month's Community Hero.

Sharon, a program development manager at the western Sydney service, was nominated for the award by business and development strategies manager, Pauline Robertson, who praised Sharon 's "incredible talent for working with at-risk young people".

" Thanks for helping me out, without putting me down, " is how one young person has described the method of working employed by Sharon, who has worked with more than of 500 at-risk young people in the past six years.

Pauline says Sharon has also made an outstanding contribution to MYC in the training of other staff - "her ability to enrich the lives of those around her is truly inspirational," she says.

November 2007

Our Community Hero: Jeannie Wagner

Nominated by: Sue Lea

This month's hero is a woman who has put her stamp on a whole range of community activities in the small northern Victorian township of Calivil - the sort of person who really keeps a small community ticking along.

Jeannie's nominator, Sue Lea, writes:

"Jeannie is a young mum who is involved in many areas of our community, including the mum and bubs group, and the tennis, football and netball clubs.

"Recently, she has taken on the position of secretary of the Calivil Recreation Reserve.

"She has been instrumental in getting many grants organised and has worked hard to upgrade several of the community facilities.

"Jeannie has also organised the football-netball vote count, assembling a fantastic PowerPoint presentation.

"Jeannie is definitely a community hero."

October 2007

Our Community Hero: Leonie Forsyth

Nominated by: Judi Geggie

Leonie's nominator, Judi Geggie, writes:

"Leonie Forsyth has a passion. Leonie wants the Hunter community to be better at keeping our children safe from accidental injury.

"Leonie has been the Regional Executive Officer for Hunter Kidsafe for many years but as Hunter Kidsafe is reliant on donations and community grants she has not been adequately paid for her hours of work because of restricted funds.

"Leonie has continued to work extra hours during the week and on weekends on exhibitions, show days, carol nights, Safety Seat Saturdays, and fundraising activities such as the Kidsafe Paddle in order to promote the activities and the safety messages of Kidsafe.

"Leonie has a vision for the construction of a Child Safety Education Centre at the John Hunter Hospital , Newcastle . This Centre will educate children, parents and service providers on how we can create an environment which is safe for children.

"It is of great concern to Leonie that children of the Hunter continue to be injured in their home from hot water, falls, strangulations, drownings and driveway reversing and with more information and better supervision these could all be preventable.

"Hunter Kidsafe has been well supported by the emergency services of the Hunter, media outlets, NGO's and an Advisory Committee, but without the drive and commitment of Leonie Forsyth, Hunter Kidsafe would not be in existence."

September 2007

Our Community Hero: Nola Dudley and Alison Hermiston

Nominated by: Kym Durance

This month we have two heroes - Nola Dudley and Alison Hermiston, both of whom are associated with Euroa Health, a small community hospital in rural Victoria .

A colleague at the hospital, Kym Durance, nominated the pair for the award, writing:

"Nola Dudley is a local Euroa woman. A member of the local hospital board for several years, she has a keen interest in health promotion and mental health.

"Alison is a community member and a member of staff of Euroa Health.

"In 2006 a women's networking group looked set to fold. Nola and Alison participated in the group and felt it would be a loss to the region if the activities stopped.

"Nola, in conjunction with Alison, suggested the hospital take over the promotion and management of the program. Together with Alison Hermiston, Nola manages the promotion, publicity and operation of the program that sees large groups of women meeting regularly over dinner and listen to a guest speaker.

"The meetings offer a great opportunity for local people to network and exchange ideas. They also offer a warm and friendly environment where newcomers can be introduced to the greater community and establish friendships and community links.

"The group meets regularly at a local restaurant. There is now a database of over 130 women on the group's mailing list, with new participants coming along every meeting.

"The group is vibrant and diverse and contributes to the wellbeing of the town, providing a means of staying connected and reducing isolation."

August 2007

Our Community Hero: Neil Carroll

Nominated by: Robyn Collins, general manager of marketing and fundraising, Learning Links

Neil Carroll, a treasured worker and volunteer at Learning Links in Sydney, NSW. Learning Links is a group formed to help children who have learning disabilities, difficulties and developmental delays, as well as their families.

Neil, who has been working and volunteering and Learning Links for the past six years, is described by his nominator, general manager of marketing and fundraising Robyn Collins, as a "genuine hero, a down-to-earth caring person who goes far beyond what is required in his job".

Robyn writes:

"As our bus driver and handyman, his duties include cleaning tree branches, gardening and driving our bus that takes babies and toddlers with disabilities and their families to our early intervention programs and family support services.

"Neil volunteers his time to take mothers of children with disabilities on field trips and siblings to workshops during the school holidays. On many occasions Neil has taken families grocery shopping.

"Neil also repairs all the toys for our early interventions programs. He does this in his own time in his workshop at home.

"Neil is a true hero to the Indigenous families attending our Koori Kids playgroup as he also regularly distributes toys to these families.

"Outside Learning Links, Neil volunteers at a nursing home in Bankstown .

"There is no job too big, too hard or even too small for him: he is always available when needed and has changed his personal plans to help out at Learning Links. Without him, Learning Links would not be the same."

July 2007

Our Community Hero: LLOYD & JULIE-ANNE BLOWS

Nominated By: Lyn Stiller

Lloyd and Julie-Anne are helping to keep their small community afloat through their work to organise the Ubobo Mountain Challenge - a fundraiser that helps provide funds to maintain community facilities.

Fellow community member Lyn Stiller writes:

"Lloyd and Julie-Anne Blows are a hard-working rural couple who are self-employed on the land. They are community heroes because every year they dedicate many of their resources (time, energy, property, personal funds) to the community to facilitate the Ubobo Mountain Challenge.

"The Ubobo Mountain Challenge is an event during the Labour Day weekend that attracts individuals and families from across the state. All attend to enjoy a family orientated atmosphere with the focus being running/walking the gruelling track maintained on the slopes of Mt Robert.

"Julie-Anne and Lloyd, together with their band of willing supporters, orchestrate three feel-good days with their generosity of spirit and good wholesome country hospitality in a beautiful bush setting despite the rural decline and lowered morale in areas such as Ubobo because of the current water shortage and other negative influencing factors.

"The funds raised from competition entry and camping fees, together with catering and bar profits, contribute to maintining the community's facilities including public toilets and the town hall.

"Without Lloyd and Julie-Anne and their good work with and for the community the outlook in and around Ubobo would not be as optimistic!"

June 2007

Our Community Hero: Paula Rivera

Nominated By: Michelle Thomas, President and founder of AWARE

A good Committee of Management member can be hard to find - a great one is even rarer. This month's Community Hero - PAULA RIVERA from Langwarrin in Victoria - falls into the latter category.

Paula is an energetic Committee of Management member of the wildlife rescue organisation AWARE, and so much more besides.

President and founder of AWARE, Michelle Thomas writes:

"Paula first became involved in our wildlife rescue group when I met her at a council talk I was attending. I talked to her about AWARE and how we needed committee members to help our fledgling group. Paula contacted me within days and has become one of the highest valued members of our committee and group."

"Paula has created brochures, fundraising tins and display folders. When we decided to develop our fundraising, marketing and media profile, Paula tackled it with gusto."

"As soon as Paula saw a need for something within the group she went to work on it - organising workshops and seminars; applying for over 10 grants; she even stepped into the role of secretary when our secretary had to move overseas."

"Currently Paula is the editor of our newsletter ('Wildlife Witness') and fundraising coordinator."

"On top of that she also undertakes wildlife rescue whenever called upon."

"We would be lost without Paula as her mind never stops thinking of ways to get our group name out there."

May 2007

Our Community Hero: Sue Freeman, Langwarrin Netball Club Treasurer

Nominated By: Club president, Fay Blommestein This month's Community Hero falls into a category of people that are really integral to the health and success of community groups and the communities they support - the treasurers.

Sue Freeman is the long-serving treasurer of the Langwarrin Netball Club - and much else besides. Club president Fay Blommestein writes:

"Sue has been Treasurer with Langwarrin Netball Club for almost 20 years (since 1988) and has done an impeccable job for the club.

"Sue has kept a tight reign on our finances over the years and invested our fundraising money wisely, enabling us to apply for funding for our court resurfacing and lighting. Sue was involved heavily in the submission, providing accurate figures to ensure we could meet our obligations within our means and without increasing our fees. She worked closely with local council through all stages of the works and ensured all work was carried out correctly."

"Sue liaises on a regular basis with all major stakeholders involved with running our club - i.e. the local council, the local association, contractors, parents and committee - and ensures all monies are paid and collected in a timely fashion. Sue always provides accurate, up-to-date figures for the committee to ensure that our club runs at an optimum level."

"Apart from the enormous workload involved with being treasurer, Sue has always contributed immensely in other aspects."

"As an umpire and umpire coach: As one our senior experienced umpires, Sue is always seeking to improve herself as an umpire and willingly passes on her valuable experience to our younger umpires and assistant umpires."

"As a coach: Sue has coached many different age groups over the years. Her patience and dedication to the girls she coaches was always to the fore."

"As a player: Sue has played with the club since 1965, and is still known to take to the court now and then when needed."

"You could not ask for a more dedicated club person than Sue Freeman. When you wants something done or organised, Sue is always there first, is last to leave and works tirelessly throughout our netball season."

"The local association's 40-year anniversary was held in 2006 and Sue was the worthy recipient of the Administrator of the Year Award."

"In my humble opinion Sue Freeman is the heart and soul of our local netball community and worthy nomination as a Community Hero."

April 2007

Our Community Hero: Bev Douglas, Springvale, Victoria

Nominated By: Graham Don, Chair of the Management Committee of the Springvale Community Centre.

This month's Community Hero is Bev Douglas, a person who exemplifies what long-term support dedication means to a community organisation.

Bev was nominated for the award by the Chair of the Management Committee of the Springvale Community Centre, Graham Don, who writes:

"Bev Douglas has been a volunteer at the Springvale Community Centre for 17 years."

"In that time she has been the vice president of the centre."

"Bev is the first to put her hand up for voluntary work - i.e. providing office assistance, making refreshments for meetings etc. She has helped out with elderly citizens and younger citizens (through the playgroup), and Bonnie Babes."

"Bev has been awarded life membership of the centre. A more willing, honest, diligent, hard-working volunteer could not be found."

"As chair of the management committee of the centre I have no hesitation in recommending Bev as a Community Hero."

March 2007

Our Community Hero: ELLEN WHITE, Wycheproof, Victoria

Nominated By: Kerry Anderson, Loddon-Mallee Community Leadership Program Co-ordinator Ellen White is a stalwart of her rural community in the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria.

Ellen's nominator, Kerry Anderson, writes:

"I have come to know and admire Ellen White through her role as Chairperson of the Board of Management of the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program.

"Ellen took on the challenge of community leadership and graduated from the program in 2001 following nine months of intensive skills development, travel and challenges presented by the program."

"When the program needed strong leadership to ensure its continuation Ellen willingly stepped into the role despite the difficulties of chairing a board comprising members who reside over 200 kilometres apart."

"In her own local community of Wycheproof, Ellen is constantly suggesting and implementing new activities. For instance, last year she introduced an art show with an equine theme as an added activity of the Wycheproof Cup. It was a huge success."

"In her multiple roles as a farmer in a drought declared region, volunteer, community leader and manager of a Community Resources Centre, Ellen's boundless energy and enthusiasm sees her involved in countless community activities across the north-central region. This requires long days, extensive travel and considerable personal expense, but she does it cheerfully with no expectation of recognition."

"Ellen White is an inspiration to us all."