Five everyday heroes have been nominated by the City of Casey community for a new community recognition and grants program.
Westfield Fountain Gate will award $10,000 grants apiece to three winners from each organisation on August 13.
The Westfield Local Heroes initiative seeks to discover and celebrate local people and organisations whose work benefits the local area.
Westfield Fountain Gate Centre Manager Cathy Main said, “We have been overwhelmed by the incredible nominations received from the City of Casey community, and the heart-warming stories shared.”
The finalists include Sikh Volunteers Australia volunteer Sukhwinder Kaur, Tori Norris from YMCA (The Young Men’s Christian Association), Manager of Cranbourne Information and Support Service Leanne Petrides, social worker Sylvia Ryan from Berwick Secondary College for her invaluable work for the school’s Student Support Team, and Community Engagement Leader Kathryn Sharp from Tulliallan Primary School for her tireless work for improving the academic and social achievements of the students.
If Ms Kaur is announced as a Westfield Local Hero, the grant would be used to increase resources and attract more volunteers to Sikh Volunteers Australia.
MS Norris said the grant would fund the YMCA’s Open Doors initiative, to assist those people who cannot afford YMCA services, to gain access. It would put approximately twenty people, adults and children, through health and wellbeing and/or swimming programs.
A CISS Flexible Support Options Program would be formed if Ms Petrides took out the award which would provide emergency relief support in a variety of flexible ways.
Mental Health First Aid training would be funded for all teaching staff and student leaders, over a two-year period at Berwick Secondary College if Ms Ryan was awarded the grant.
Ms Sharp said if she was announced as a local hero, the grant would go towards supporting AEL families, providing parenting programs, develop more information sessions, conduct family day initiatives and more.
Westfield is now calling on the public once more to help determine the three Westfield Local Heroes by casting their vote on the Westfield Fountain Gate website.
“Ten-thousand dollars can make a big difference to the social wellbeing and harmony of our community, so we urge people to vote for the change and good-will they wish to see,” said Ms Martin.
Public voting is open until 1 July at https://www.westfield.com.au/fountaingate.
