Congratulations to the recipients of the Local Women of the Year Awards

The Local Women

of the Year Awards,

nominated by Members

of Parliament, recognise

women who have

made wonderful

contributions to their

local communities.

Antoinette Abdelseed Nominated by Mrs Tanya Davies MP (Mulgoa)

Antoinette is recognised for her dedication and advocacy work for newly arrived African migrants and refugees and for her tireless work in establishing charities and networks of support for these new arrivals.

Judith AdamNominated by Mr Dominic Perrottet MP (Castle Hill)

Judith is recognised for her dedication to the Castle Hill community, in particular her volunteer work for the Castle Hill Art and Show Societies and for her incredible fundraising efforts for the RDA Riding for the Disabled in Kellyville.

Julie Ainsworth Nominated by Mr Tim Owen MP (Newcastle)

Julie is recognised not only for her steadfast commitment to several Newcastle charities over the past 26 years but also for being the first women to be appointed General Manager of the Newcastle Herald.

Holly Behringer Nominated by Mr Chris Patterson MP (Camden)

Holly is recognised for her renowned service to the Leppington Progress Association for more than 20 years. She is affectionately known as a ‘conduit of community spirit’.

Ruth Blanch Nominated by The Hon Richard Torbay MP (Northern Tablelands)

Ruth is recognised for her unwavering community involvement in sporting, arts, crafts, churches, schools and support groups, as well as the Country Women’s Association.

Sister Marlene Chedid Nominated by Dr Geoff Lee MP (Parramatta)

Sister Marlene is recognised for her devotion to the Maronite community, voluntarily serving the parishes at Mass, and raising more than $3 million towards significant capital works projects for Our Lady of Lebanon College.

Jacquie Cheetham Nominated by The Hon Linda Burney MP (Canterbury)

Jacquie is recognised for the many innovative and useful programs she has instigated throughout her 23 years in government and non-government roles in social work, community development and teaching.

Margaret Coles Nominated by Mr Bruce Notley-Smith MP (Coogee)

Margaret is recognised for her outstanding contribution to the community as an exceptional fundraiser and a committed volunteer. Her philosophy has always been to help those less fortunate than herself.

Jane Cooke OAMNominated by Mr David Elliott MP (Baulkham Hills)

Jane is recognised for her exemplary leadership of the Castle Hill RSL, Gymnastics Club and The Hills Shire sporting committees for more than 15 years.

Mary Anne Cronin Nominated by Ms Gabrielle Upton MP (Vaucluse)

Mary Anne is recognised for the significant contribution she has made to her community as President of the local Chamber of Commerce and her exceptional fundraising efforts for North Bondi Surf Club and the Wairoa Special School.

Yvonne Booth Nominated by Mr Greg Aplin MP (Albury)

Yvonne is recognised for her role as a dynamic community leader in the Henty region and for her involvement in organisations such as Guides, Myoora Homestead and Tidy Towns Committee.

Sonja Cameron Nominated by Mr Ray Williams MP (Hawkesbury)

Sonja is recognised for her dedicated involvement in Arcadia Public School. One of her many achievements is the working bee she organises to plant vegetable gardens so that students learn about sustainability and growing produce.

Wendy Carver Nominated by The Hon Barry O’Farrell MP (Ku-ring-gai)

Wendy is recognised for her outstanding contribution to Lifeline over the past 25 years. She has worked towards enabling crisis support for many, many people in the ‘Harbour to Hawkesbury’ community.

Felicia Cecil Nominated by Mr Geoff Provest MP (Tweed)

Felicia is recognised for her incredible commitment to her local community through her church, her involvement in the Blair Athol Refuge and to local, regional and state levels of public education.

Kellie Checkley Nominated by Ms Melanie Gibbons MP (Menai)

Kellie is recognised for her dedication to Project Youth where she goes above and beyond to make sure these young people are healthy, active and that they have the opportunity to realise their potential.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Nerida Cullen Nominated by The Hon Pru Goward MP (Goulburn)

Nerida is recognised for the dedication she has shown to women in regional areas. Through her involvement in NSW Rural Women’s Council, Rural Women’s Award and Livestock Health and Pest Authority, she has been a leader in advancing government understanding of the needs of rural women.

Judy Foord Nominated by Mr Lee Evans MP (Heathcote)

Judy is recognised for her determined advocacy work for people with disabilities and their families so that parents are safe in the knowledge that their children will be looked after for life.

Leonie Forsyth Nominated by Mr Andrew Cornwell MP (Charlestown)

Leonie is recognised for her incredible role at Kidsafe Hunter for the past 20 years where her work has helped to reduce the number of serious injuries to children and her legacy in the Hunter will be felt for many years to come.

Roseanna Gallo Nominated by The Hon Victor Dominello MP (Ryde)

Roseanna is recognised for her endless drive, support and selfless efforts in volunteering with organisations like Macquarie Park Rotary Club, Eastwood Granny Smith Festival and Lady of Grace Nursing Home.

Mariya Gojan Nominated by Mr Tony Issa MP (Granville)

Mariya is recognised for her remarkable contribtion to the Granville community for a number of years in the commerical sector and with charitable organisations.

Patricia Haddow Nominated by Mr Garry Edwards MP (Swansea)

Patricia is recognised for her acclaimed contribution to the local community in a range of volunteer roles for Belmont Neighbourhood Centre, Old Age and Invalid Pensioners and Belmont Lantern Club.

Deborah Hannon Nominated by Mr Chris Spence MP (The Entrance)

Deborah is recognised for the incredible leadership she showed as Principal of The Entrance Public School and for the spirited dedication she continues to display in her community.

Trudy Hanson OAMNominated by Mr Troy Grant MP (Dubbo)

Trudy is recognised for her unsurpassed dedication to people with grief, trauma and mental health issues in regional and rural areas through her work with the National Association for Loss and Grief and the establishment of the Blue Healers Depression Anxiety and Stress Program.

Gai Hawthorn Nominated by Mr Stuart Ayres MP (Penrith)

Gai is recognised for her contribution to the community as Manager of Penrith City Centre Association. She is committed to helping the homeless and disadvataged through various volunteering and fundraising roles.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Renee Klippert Nominated by Mr Bart Bassett MP (Londonderry)

Renee is recognised for the selfless generosity she gives in her role at Connecting Carers and as a foster carer herself. She is one of the region’s most prominent advocates for vulnerable children and their carers.

Catherine Knox Nominated by Mr Jonathan O’Dea MP (Davidson)

Catherine is recognised for her extraordinary work raising awareness about post-natal depression. She established the Gidget Foundation, and co-authored the book, ‘Beyond Baby Blues’.

Susan Lawrance Nominated by The Hon Kevin Humphries MP (Barwon)

Susan is recognised for her unwavering dedication to promoting reconciliation, and empowering men, women, Aboriginal people and people with disability through teaching art in Walgett and Lightening Ridge.

Fay Linnett Nominated by Mr John Williams MP (Murray-Darling)

Fay is recognised as a powerhouse in the Ivanhoe community and the remote far west NSW. A principal organiser of the annual Kilfera Field Day for 23 years, she has also been instrumental in fundraising for Ivanhoe Hospital and the Royal Flying Doctors.

Violet Lord Nominated by The Hon Shelley Hancock MP (South Coast)

Violet is recognised for her dedicated 40 years’ service to the Nowra East Public School, Parents and Citizens Association and her coordination of the Breakfast Club that serves nutritional meals to more than 60 children each day.

Deborah Holloman Nominated by The Hon Chris Hartcher MP (Terrigal)

Deborah is recognised for her passionate commitment to preserving and maintaining our natural ecosystem through her work at NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. Deb works tirelessly to restore areas degraded by weed invasion in the Gosford area, working with contractors and volunteers.

Susan Hoopmann Nominated by The Hon Anthony Roberts MP (Lane Cove)

Sue is recognised for being an excellent role model for women through her outstanding service to the community through involvement with local government.

Kerry Johnston Nominated by The Hon Donald Page MP (Ballina)

Kerry is recognised for the extraordinary contribution she has made through the organisation she founded in 1979, Riding for the Disabled Association NSW Ballina and District Centre.

Caroline Kelly Nominated by Dr Rob Stokes MP (Pittwater)

Caroline is recognised for her work towards improving outcomes for people with pancreatic cancer. The Avner Nahmani Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (named after her late husband) aims to double the number of survivors of pancreatic cancer by 2020.

Christine Killinger Nominated by Mrs Roza Sage MP (Blue Mountains)

Christine is recognised for enriching the lives of people in the Blue Mountains through the many organisations for which she volunteers and for her extraordinary fundraising efforts.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Karen Lowden Nominated by The Hon Jillian Skinner MP (North Shore)

Karen is recognised for her unsurpassed bravery and dedication to duty when she risked her life to stay with Madeleine Pulver during the collar-bomb hoax at her home in Mosman in August 2011.

Rebecca Lucas Nominated by The Hon Mike Baird MP (Manly)

Rebecca is recognised for her passion, determination and courage to make a difference. At 19, she founded the Tony Lucas Brain Cancer Research Grant (in honour of her father) to support research for a cure and has so far raised more than $200,000.

Maura Luxford Nominated by The Hon Andrew Stoner MP (Oxley)

Maura is recognised for her inspiring contribution to educating adolescents on melanoma and founding the ‘ride 4 a cure’ Hannah Rose Melanoma Research Fund after her late daughter Hannah who was diagnosed with melanoma at age 19.

Brooke Manzione Nominated by Mr Bryan Doyle MP (Campbelltown)

Brooke is recognised for her inspiring efforts to improving the lives of local young people. She is dedicated to working with young people to help them make better decisions around the use of drugs and alcohol.

Margaret Matthews Nominated by The Hon George Souris MP (Upper Hunter)

Margaret is recognised for her outstanding contribution to Girl Guides for more than 30 years and for her fundraising work for the Westpac Helicopter, Lioness Club and for sending care packages to men and women serving in the armed forces overseas.

Dawn Mayne Nominated by Mr John Barilaro MP (Monaro)

Dawn is recognised for her remarkable service and dedication to the community of Queanbeyan through her work with both the Show Society and Legacy. She works tirelessly to enhance Queanbeyan’s profile in the region.

Sandra McCarthy Nominated by Mr Gareth Ward MP (Kiama)

Sandra is recognised for the phenomenal mark she has left on the Kiama community through decades of dedicated service to local government. She is known locally as an extraordinary woman.

Karen McLean Nominated by Mr Darren Webber MP (Wyong)

Karen is recognised as the driving force behind the Wyong Regional Chamber of Commerce as Manager/Town Coordinator for the past three years, championing a number of causes including the fight against graffiti.

Jan McWilliams Nominated by Mr Stephen Bromhead MP (Myall Lakes)

Jan is recognised for the outstanding contribution she has made to Myall Lakes through her 17 years of continuous service in local government.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Kerry Parbery Nominated by The Hon Andrew Constance MP (Bega)

Kerry is recognised for her drive, determination and dedication to surf life saving over the past 30 years. She has given unreservedly to the community where she is much admired.

Jacqueline Pettit Nominated by The Hon Greg Smith MP (Epping)

Jacqueline is recognised for her inspiring leadership of The Shack, a charity that helps more than 100 young people with anything from family problems to drug and alcohol addictions, issues with crime to loneliness.

Carmen Pollifrone Nominated by Mr John Sidoti MP (Five Dock)

Carmen is recognised for her remarkable work as the Family Educator at All Hallows School and as the mini Vinnies coordinator, a program designed to help people who are homeless and in need of support

Nada Potter Nominated by Mr Chris Holstein MP (Gosford)

Nada is recognised for her unwavering dedication to the people around her and in particular for her work with both Chertsey Schools as Community Centres and her involvement with the Central Coast Kids Day Out.

Joan Powell Nominated by Mr Glenn Brookes MP (East Hills)

Joan is recognised for her advocacy, leadership and championing of causes in her local area, including organising the installation of lifts at Panania station and a shuttle bus for shoppers and university students.

Samantha Meyn Nominated by The Hon Robyn Parker MP (Maitland)

Samantha is recognised for her dedication to improving the lives of children with cancer and their families. She and her husband established the Harry Meyn Foundation in memory of their son Harry who died from an inoperable brain tumour.

Wendy Milburn Nominated by Mr Charles Casuscelli MP (Strathfield)

Wendy is recognised for her passionate advocacy work on behalf of students with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families who attend Chalmers Road School.

Kate Milford Nominated by Mr Craig Baumann MP (Port Stephens)

Kate is recognised for her exceptional service to Lions International for over 20 years as well as for the 40 hours or more each week that she spends volunteering in her community in various capacities.

Nell Morgan OAMNominated by The Hon Brad Hazzard MP (Wakehurst)

Nell is recognised for the decades of service she has dedicated to volunteering for Meals on Wheels. In her 90s, she is still actively involved and also teaches Scottish dancing, as she has done for the past 25 years.

Jean Newton Nominated by Mr Jai Rowell MP (Wollondilly)

Jean is recognised for her valuable contribution to the community through her volunteer work and for her involvement in the Wollondilly disability access committee.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Luz Besañes Press Nominated by The Hon Thomas George MP (Lismore)

Luz is recognised for her passion in helping others in her local community. She is Secretary of the International Rainbow Club, a ‘human book’ at the library, a Red Cross Telecross volunteer and organiser of Harmony Day.

Leonie Schumacher Nominated by Mr Paul Toole MP (Bathurst)

Leonie is recognised for her dedication to keeping the Bathurst Community Transport Group up and running for the past 12 years, and for her unwavering commitment to those in need.

Margaret Sieswerda Nominated by Mr Mark Coure MP (Oatley)

Margaret is recognised for her contribution to fine arts as a master in the craft of decoupage. Now in her 80s, Margaret has raised thousands of dollars over the years for those in need by donating her creations to charity.

Linda Strickland Nominated by Mr Kevin Conolly MP (Riverstone)

Linda is recognised for her exemplary commitment to homeless people in her community by cooking food at her home and then driving around her local area delivering it to them daily.

Maree Sumpton

Nominated by Mr Matt Kean MP (Hornsby)

Maree is recognised for her dedication and inspiring leadership she has displayed throughout her career with the Department of Education and Communities, spanning more than 40 years.

Jeanette Suttie OAMNominated by Mr Greg Piper MP (Lake Macquarie)

Jeanette is recognised for the incredible contribution she has made to the Lake Macquarie community including coordinating youth groups, finding accommodation for the homeless, mentoring ‘at risk’ teens, and providing emergency care

Melva Thompson Nominated by Mr Christopher Gulaptis MP (Clarence)

Melva is recognised for the outstanding contribution she has made fostering the arts in her community and encouraging community participation.

Aimy Thorne Nominated by Mr Andrew Gee MP (Orange)

Aimy is recognised for her efforts for autism awareness and the need for more support for autistic children and their families in rural and remote communities. She walked from Broken Hill to Wellington, raising almost $10,000.

Margaret Turnbull Nominated by Mr John Flowers MP (Rockdale)

Margaret is recognised for her enthusiastic contribution to the Board of the Work and Leisure Centre for Adults (with disability) over the past 18 years. Each week she volunteers to take both adults and young children swimming.

Susan Walter AMNominated by The Hon Graham Annesley MP (Miranda)

Sue is recognised for her incredible commitment to improving the lives and outcomes of children with cancer and their families through the organisation she founded in honour of her son, the Steven Walter Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Patricia Waterman Nominated by Mr Alex Greenwich MP (Sydney)

Patricia is recognised for 25 years of volunteer work in her local community. She has worked with tenant groups to improve safety, organised neighbourhood groups to promote harmony and tolerance and is always available to those in need.

Beatrice Williams Nominated by The Hon Katrina Hodgkinson MP (Burrinjuck)

Beatrice is recognised for her exceptional contribution to the Crookwell Shire where she is active in helping individuals and organisations such as Meals on Wheels, Pink Ribbon Day and Cancer Council.

Suzette Young Nominated by The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP (Willoughby)

Suzette is recognised for the inspiring contribution she made to the community as Principal of Willoughby Girls High School for 19 years. Under her exemplary leadership, staff and students worked together to attain the highest standards in scholarship and citizenship.

Myra Zacher Nominated by Mr Andrew Fraser MP (Coffs Harbour)

Myra is recognised for her incredible contribution to the Coffs Harbour community through her involvement in the Netball Association and as President of Club Coffs.

Recipients of the Local Woman of the Year Awards

Thank you

We would like to thank the following people for their contribution to the 2013 NSW Women of the Year Awards:

Sponsor

Judges

Juliet Bourke Partner, Human Capital, Deloitte

Yim Chan Manager, Performance Group, Public Service Commission

Jeni O’Dowd Editor at Large, The Daily Telegraph

Emanuel Perdis Managing Director, Napoleon Perdis

Brian Seidler Chief Executive, Master Builders Association of NSW

Media Partner

Sponsored gifts

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Australian Chamber Orchestra

Berkelouw Books

Café 1812

Lomography Australia

Master Builders Association of NSW

My Messy Room

Napoleon Perdis

All the nominees and the people who nominated these wonderful women

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