Congratulations to our 2020 Westfield Local Heroes

Posted on 28 October, 2020

Since 2018, 42 Westfield centres across Australia and New Zealand call on community members annually to nominate hardworking, dedicated and passionate individuals in their community that selflessly do extraordinary things.

The Westfield Local Heroes grants offer six local Canberrans an opportunity to be awarded $10,000 to help fund further work in their community.

This year, 11 extraordinary finalists were put to the community to vote for who they think is the most deserving of this grant and we’re happy to announce the six very well-deserving winners…

Westfield Belconnen

Elizabeth Lefevre was on maternity leave with four-month-old twins when a breast cancer diagnosis turned her world upside-down.

Elizabeth soon discovered a gap in support for younger women with cancer and started an online group that became The Young Women’s Cancer Support Group – ACT & Surrounding Region.

Elizabeth Lefevre.

The group allows young women to ask questions, vent, socialise and support each other while raising awareness of the challenges of breast cancer.

“If you’re unable to be proactive, extremely vigilant and advocate your rights, things get missed and can fall through the cracks of the system—which I experienced personally on multiple occasions,” says Elizabeth.

If this past year has taught us anything, it’s taught us that sometimes the most important things are the company of others, and being able to have a laugh.

This is exactly what Local Hero Marilyn Richards brings to her community at through the ACT Wizards Tenpin Bowling.

On a Saturday morning at the Zone Belconnen, the bowling ally is filled with friends, families and support workers coming together to encourage and share a laugh with the ACT Wizards.

Marylin Richards.

Marilyn has been the president of The Wizards for more than 20 years and in her time she has helped to provide opportunities to people with a disability to compete at local and national level.

“I feel great satisfaction seeing the bowlers reach their potential,” says Marilyn.

Lids4Kids was born when Tim Miller started raising funds for charity by collecting the 10c refund on containers. But nobody wanted the plastic lids he had accumulated.

Tim was determined to save the lids from landfill and searched for various not-for-profit groups that could use the plastic bottle lids to repurpose into sustainable recycled plastic products to benefit the environment and disadvantaged kids.

“We’ve prevented over 22 tonnes of plastic from going to landfill,” says Tim.

Tim Miller.

Tim has been working with Envision Hands, helping to turn the donated lids into artificial limbs for children, however, due to the overwhelming support from the local Canberra community and across Australia, the manufacturers can’t keep up.

Tim is now looking towards other local initiatives to ensure that he continues saving plastic from landfill while also helping our smallest community members.

Westfield Woden

Jessica Kercher is a dedicated supporter and fundraiser for Camp Quality, a charity that gives kids facing cancer the chance to be kids again.

Jess has experienced firsthand the emotional, physical and mental impact of cancer on families after her two-year-old daughter fought an aggressive cancer diagnosis. She also saw the impact that Camp Quality has on families and young patients during these times.

Jessica Kercher.

For the last 10 years, Jess has been dedicated to fundraising and sharing her story to help families just like hers. Jess’s bravery has raised enough funds to give hundreds of kids and families facing a cancer diagnosis the opportunity to go on a Camp Quality program.

“Camp Quality’s main focus is creating laughter. We truly believe laughter is the best medicine,” says Jess.

Jess is excited to hand over this grant to Camp Quality to allow children facing cancer to enjoy the opportunity to go on a kids camp, family camp or a fun day.

Kristine Hewett is known for her big heart. Despite working full-time, she co-founded Adamas Nexus to provide long-term peer support for women survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

Kristine Hewett.

A survivor of domestic violence herself, Kristine has used her own experiences to bring light to the lives of women in similar circumstances.

Next, Kristine plans to expand Adamas Nexus to a self-sufficient model that can work on a global scope, ensuring all women surviving domestic violence don’t cycle back into crisis.

“The group helps women to heal collectively by helping others and to reignite positive feelings, passion and power,” she says.

Michelle Barclay is an empathetic, hands-on-lawyer who goes out of her way to support vulnerable people who, in many circumstances, become overlooked in our community.

She started at Canberra Community Law as a volunteer, but charitable work has become her career. Michelle is making a lasting impact. For example, she worked to prevent women prisoners at the Alexander Maconochie Centre from being evicted from their homes.

Michelle Barclay.

Michelle also helps people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness access legal help and obtain documents to access support.

“The amazing thing about my work is that it often positively impacts my clients, and, in some cases, can be life-changing,” says Michelle.

Michelle’s Local Heroes grant will help her continue to advocate and fight for vulnerable people, to ensure that they have a good opportunity to pave a fulfilling life in the Canberra community.

Congratulations to all the hardworking Local Heroes. Your impact in this community helps to pave the road to a Canberra that is proactive, inclusive, sustainable, opportunistic, supportive and empathetic.