Tag: Local Heroes

Westfield Chermside Unveils Local Heroes Finalists, Voting Now Open

Westfield Chermside calls on the community to rally behind their local champions as voting opens for the 2024 Westfield Local Heroes programme.

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Now in its seventh year, the programme acknowledges and celebrates the tireless dedication of individuals and organisations working to enhance their communities and the environment.

Each Westfield centre will grant $20,000 to the finalist receiving the most votes, while the remaining finalists will each receive a $5,000 grant to further their impactful work. This year, Westfield is set to award $AUD1.25 million in community grants across Australia and New Zealand.

Chermside’s Changemakers

Westfield Chermside local heroes
Photo Credit: Westfield Chermside

Benjamin Bjarnesen, founder of the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation, addresses critical service gaps within LGBTQ+ communities. The foundation’s education and resources reached over 7.3 million people last year, fostering safer support systems. With the grant, Ben aims to expand the foundation’s e-learning package.

Westfield Chermside local heroes
Photo Credit: Westfield Chermside

Bianca Campling, Baby Bundle Coordinator at A Brave Life, assists vulnerable new mothers facing challenges like domestic violence and homelessness. By providing essential baby items to over 1,500 mothers annually, Bianca empowers them to care for their newborns. The grant would enable Bianca to expand the Baby Bundle programme, reaching over 3,500 mothers annually.

Westfield Chermside local heroes
Photo Credit: Westfield Chermside

Jodi Traves, CEO of Bridgecare Ltd, leads a team offering compassionate support to those in need. Bridgecare aids homeless individuals, provides weekly food hampers, and assists with household tasks. The grant would allow Jodi to bolster Bridgecare’s capacity to purchase and store food, including fresh and frozen items from OzHarvest.

Centre Manager Pietta Lacey encourages customers to take a moment to vote and acknowledge the finalists’ exceptional contributions. She highlighted that every vote counts and can significantly impact the positive change these individuals and organisations drive in the community.

Voting is open until Monday, September 9th, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, 15 October. Thanks to Scentre Group’s generous support, the Westfield Local Heroes programme is more than just recognition; it’s an investment in the future of our communities.

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Published Date 22-August-2024

Westfield Chermside Names Local Heroes For 2022

Two women supporting thousands of families through their charities and an Aboriginal elder who has been mentoring young people for 30 years have been named Westfield Local Heroes for 2022 at Westfield Chermside.

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Kerry Gordon | Precious Wings

Kerry Gordon, founder of Precious Wings charity, is this year’s Local Hero, receiving a $20,000 grant for her organisation. Ms Gordon is a paediatric nurse practitioner working in the Paediatric Palliative Care Service.

The creation of Precious Wings was driven by the experience of the loss of a child. Through the charity, Ms Gordon offers love, hope, understanding, and support to families, so they never feel alone after their bereavement. The charity also educates healthcare staff about caring for bereaved families.  

Rebecca Adams | First Light Widowed Association

Like Ms Gordon, Rebecca Adams is also touching people’s lives. After losing her husband at 33, six weeks after their wedding, Ms Adams put her energy into helping others in her position.  

She is one of the founders of First Light Widowed Association, which provides practical and emotional support to thousands of people.

Rebecca Adams (Photo supplied)

As a finalist of Westfield Local Heroes, Ms Adams received $5,000 to help her continue their work of her organisation.

Gary Cobbo | Kurbungui Youth and Family Development

Another finalist who received a $5,000 grant for his organisation was Uncle Gary Cobbo. He is a respected Aboriginal leader who has dedicated over three decades of his life mentoring and supporting hundreds of local young people. 

At Kurbungui Youth and Family Development, he is always ready to offer people food and a safe place to have a yarn, efforts that he hopes will lead to life-changing interventions.  

Garry Cobbo (Photo supplied)

Pam Wilson, National Community Experience Manager and creator of the Westfield Local Heroes program congratulated the recipients and thanked the communities for casting their votes to help determine the 2022 Westfield Local Heroes.
“As we celebrate our fifth year of the Westfield Local Heroes program, we are once again overwhelmed by the inspiring nominations this year. Through the success of the program, we are proud to be able to continue to recognise and reward everyday people doing extraordinary work in our communities,” Ms Wilson said.

About the Westfield Local Heroes

Photo credit: westfield.com.au

Scentre Group’s Westfield Local Heroes program was established in 2018 to celebrate community role models whose work benefits others across a broad range of sectors, including family and youth support, health and wellbeing, inclusion and equity, community resilience and environmental sustainability. 

Read: A Tale of 4 Children and the Hummingbird House

They are nominated and voted by their communities, and they represent a diverse range of sectors. Westfield will award one Westfield Local Hero per Westfield centre a $20,000 grant for the organisation or group they represent, whilst finalists receive a $5,000 grant each.