Unsung Heroes - NSW/ACT voting

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2009 IGA Community Chest Unsung Heroes Awards Regional Winners for New South Wales & ACT

	David Norris - Western Districts Junior Rugby Union For David Norris, it’s not just about sport, but about helping youth through many aspects of life. Having devoted the past 20 years to junior rugby union in Canberra, as coach, referee, manager and executive committee member, David has earned a reputation of tremendous respect. He leads by example and mentors boys on and off the field, assisting them with employment opportunities through his own gardening business, and educating them on life skills and the importance of fitness through sport - particularly rugby. David’s development of youth has seen many boys reach their goals, including some moving on to become Super 14 and Wallabies players. His commitment and enthusiasm were integral in a campaign to send the boys to France for the Junior Rugby World Cup, and this effort is replicated each year for the annual club under-13s tour to New Zealand. With David’s support, up to 30 under-13 players and their families aim to fundraise around $60,000 to finance the 10-day trip to New Zealand, which is organised to provide the junior team with an international sporting and cultural experience.
	Jean Willmington - Cancer Council of NSW The community of Luddenham has been touched by the efforts of Jean Willmington, who devotes most of her time and energy to charity work and raising money for the Cancer Council. Now in her 70s, Jean is described as the ‘backbone’ of Luddenham. Whether she’s organising raffles and morning teas or selling roses grown by her husband, Jean is dedicated to the cause, last year raising a total $12,000 for cancer research. She is up at the crack of dawn to run a monthly stall at the local market, proudly selling items that she has spent hours collecting from the community. Jean’s goodwill extends to the residents of the local Edenglassie Nursing Home, who Jean visits each Christmas with more than one hundred small gifts that she has collected and wrapped to help brighten their day. Also a proud member of her local church, Jean spends many hours volunteering and often steps in for the minister to deliver the sermon. Jean not only shares her cakes and conversation with her community but also her selfless volunteer work, making her a true local hero.
	Andy Paterson - Berowra Junior Rugby League Football Club Having raised his three children as a single parent, Andy Paterson’s ongoing commitment to the Berowra Junior Rugby League Football Club has been exceptional. Recognised as the longest established club member, Andy graduated from the playing field to committee member, taking on roles of Treasurer, Vice-President and President, as well as Ground Manager on weekends for the past 10 years, and Club Medical Officer for the past 18 years. His commitment to the club has seen him coach junior teams for many years, along with responsibilities as timekeeper, scorer, registrar and chairman of promotions. Andy was honoured as Clubman of the Year in 1981, 1992 and 2008 and was made a life member of the Berowra Wallabies Club in 1996, as well as a life member of the Berowra Club at North Sydney in 1997. With two sons still playing, and his love for the game and the club, Andy looks like he’ll keep offering them his talents and services for a long time to come.
	Sophie Smith - Royal Hospital for Women Foundation Sophie Smith has endured what most parents would struggle to ever get over – the loss of her three babies following their premature birth in 2006. However, with great courage and optimism, Sophie has not only kept their spirit and memory alive but raised more than $300,000 since their deaths to help save other premature babies. Sophie initially began training for a half-marathon to raise money for a new humidicrib at the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) in Randwick, where her brave boys Henry, Jasper and Evan were born and cared for. After circulating a flyer inviting others to join the event, Sophie was amazed that 98 people ran with her to raise $80,000. The RHW Foundation was so inspired by Sophie they established the ‘Henry, Jasper and Evan Smith Trust Fund’ specifically to purchase crucial life-saving equipment for critically ill babies. Sophie now coordinates a team of more than 100 runners each year to participate in the Sydney Morning Herald Half-Marathon, ensuring that three years on, her boys’ lives are continuing to make a difference.
	Joanne Davies - Kincumber Roos Soccer Club Life member of the Kincumber Roos Soccer Club in recognition of her 16 years participation and support, Joanne Davies has worked endlessly in volunteer roles to make her community a better place. She considers her volunteer work an extension of parenting and a way to help to create a positive environment for local kids. Having raised three children, she has spent countless hours volunteering in schools and at scouts, whilst also playing and managing various teams at the soccer club. For the past 10 years she has taken on the responsibility of club secretary for the Kincumber Roos, attending club meetings, organising teams, preparing rosters and attending games from 7am on both Saturdays and Sundays. Joanne is also the child support officer and works hard to create a friendly and fun environment for her own children and more than 700 other club members. Her ongoing commitments are managed around a full-time job but she insists that any positive impact she can have in the community is worth it for the kids.
	Scott Balmer - House With No Steps A young man of 31 years, Scott Balmer could be mistaken for an angel in Taree. Not only does he care at home for his 49-year-old sister who has down syndrome with high support medical needs, but he has spent the past 16 years volunteering much of his spare time to care for people with intellectual and physical disabilities, giving them a quality of life they may have otherwise never experienced. Scott is not just a carer, he’s a friend, taking his charges on holidays or out into the community to participate in regular social activities – anything from 10-pin bowling to a beer at the local pub, depending on what they want to do. Over the years he has taken them on trips to Sydney, Queensland, Broken Hill and Lake Keepit, and taught them everything from art and craft and cooking skills, to boating and gardening, ensuring their safety and enjoyment at all times. Scott also manages to fit in time as a cub leader with the local Taree scouts, and when he’s not working or volunteering he breeds and shows chooks.
	Hayley Moore - The MS Society Not many 13-year-olds can claim they’ve raised more than $16,500 for charity, but Hayley Moore has achieved more in her short life than many will do in a lifetime. Since the age of seven, Hayley has dedicated much of her spare time to raising money to help find a cure for people with MS, an illness her aunty lives with. Every year Hayley braves the cold winter weather to seek sponsorship from local businesses and the wider community for the annual MS Read-a-Thon, during which time she reads as many books as possible to raise maximum funds for the MS Society. Reading before and after school, and whenever she has spare time, Hayley has been able to read as many as 300 books in one month, while still keeping up with her schoolwork. For such a young person to act so selflessly and dedicate so much of her free time to others is an inspiration for all.
	Joan Bagnall - Oak Flats Fire Brigade At 73 years of age, Joan Bagnall has dedicated much of her life to helping others. In 1966, with six young children in tow, she took on the role of cub leader with First Oak Flats Scout Group, at a time when facilities were lacking. Long after her sons left cubs and scouts, and her daughters graduated from brownies and guides, Joan continued to lead the Oak Flats scout group, teaching children to respect themselves and others, their environment and the community. In addition to her weekly meetings with the cubs, Joan took the children on various outings and participated in many fundraising events and working bees over the years. It was not until 1992 – 26 years on – that Joan was forced to leave the cubs due to illness. However, she managed to continue her services at St Vincent de Paul, where she started in 1976 and still volunteers today, helping out on a weekly basis in the shop and on the phones to provide welfare to those in need. As Joan says, “you don’t get any Brownie points for sitting at home”!
	Alf Cantrell - The Mulga Bill Festival – Yeoval Progress Association Having raised six children (one son and five daughters), Alf Cantrell can now focus his efforts on helping the local Yeoval community. One of Alf’s greatest achievements for Yeoval has been the development of the ‘Banjo Paterson Bush Park’, created from a large section of unused land he secured from the Lands Department. After many hours work and multiple grants, the Bush Park boasts three shelter/picnic sheds, an environmentally-friendly solar-powered worm toilet, works of art and the recently completed ‘Poets Walk’, which leads to the ruins of an original homestead frequented by Banjo Paterson as a child. Alf’s biggest project is the annual Mulga Bill Festival, swelling Yeoval’s population from 300 to 6000 people. He was also instrumental in establishing the Yeoval Museum and regularly organises film nights, assists with catering at various events, while also managing to run his own business – the local general store – with his wife Sharon. As she says, there isn’t a day when Alf doesn’t do something for the community.