Awards Program 2016
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Awards Program 2016 NSW Parliament House Wednesday 9 March 2016 Order of proceedings Welcome Gretel Killeen, Master of Ceremonies Welcome to Country Yvonne Weldon Opening remarks The Hon. Pru Goward MP, Minister for Women Award presentations Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year Award A.H. Beard Community Hero Award Harvey Norman Young Woman of the Year Award NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Presented by the Hon. Leslie Williams MP, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs NSW Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year Presented by the Hon. Mike Baird MP, NSW Premier Close Refreshments will be served Entertainment by The Emma Stephenson Trio from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 1 Message from the Premier The NSW Women of the Year Awards shine a light on the accomplishments of the many extraordinary women in NSW. Each and every nominee has made an immense contribution to their community and deserves to be publically applauded. The NSW Government is proud to officially recognise the outstanding contributions of women through these awards, celebrating the commitment they show to their industries and communities. The achievements of these remarkable women will inspire the next generation so that they too can make a positive difference to NSW. On behalf of the NSW Government, I congratulate the nominees, finalists and winners of the 2016 NSW Women of the Year Awards. Mike Baird MP PREMIER 2 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Message from the Minister for Women I am extremely proud to host the fifth annual NSW Women of the Year Awards which recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution women across NSW make to industry, community and society. The Awards profile women who have demonstrated excellence in their career, women who make significant contributions in their community and young women whose achievements make them leaders in changing the social and business landscape. Every year the Awards have grown in number with 2016 providing a record number of nominations and votes cast by members of the public. This year we celebrate the inaugural NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award. This award acknowledges Aboriginal women who have made a significant impact through the promotion of reconciliation and cohesion. From the most remote corners of the State to the centre of our largest cities, NSW Women of the Year nominees are changing lives and communities. I congratulate and thank each nominee for their dedication and contribution to NSW. Thank you also to our wonderful sponsors A.H. Beard, Rex Airlines and Harvey Norman and our many merchandise sponsors who help to make this day so special in recognising remarkable women. Pru Goward MP MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH, MINISTER FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HEALTH, MINISTER FOR WOMEN, MINISTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 3 Message from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs I am deeply honoured to take part in the NSW Women of the Year Awards and to present the inaugural award for NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. The NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award recognises Aboriginal women in the community who continue to promote reconciliation and cohesion by improving relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. All nominations are a testament to the outstanding contribution women make to industry, community and society across NSW. Leslie Williams MP MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, MINISTER FOR ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EDUCATION 4 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Finalists Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year Kelly Foran Kelly created Friendly Faces, Helping Hands following the diagnosis of her own brain tumour and a relapse of her son’s cancer. Friendly Faces, Helping Hands is a charity that assists regional families to access health services and provides support to families in hospital. Despite much adversity in Kelly’s life, she has used her experiences to empower not only herself but her local community. Kelly embodies the essence of community spirit and kindness. Through her work she is known for her constant display of dedication, offering support to regional families who need to travel for treatment and health care. Kelly has a positive effect on the lives of thousands of people in regional NSW. One of her biggest achievements is her commitment to helping others, selflessly inspiring and providing much needed support. 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 5 Jodie McRae Jodie is a single mother who owns five successful small businesses in Lismore and the surrounding area. Jodie was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of triple negative breast cancer in May 2013. After being told she was cancer free in December 2013, Jodie was subsequently diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in September 2014. Jodie continues to fight the disease to this day. Despite a poor prognosis she founded Jodie’s Inspiration, a not-for-profit organisation. She raised over $100,000 from her first fundraiser and purchased two cold cap therapy machines for a local oncology unit so that patients were given the opportunity to prevent chemotherapy hair loss. Her relentless public education has assisted local women in finding cancerous breast lumps early. Jodie provides support through fundraisers, technological resources and emotional guidance Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year for cancer sufferers. Her well-respected community profile and impressive business acumen stems from her kind nature to selflessly Finalists | give back to the community time and time again. 6 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Karol O’Brien Karol is the General Manager of the Willing and Able Foundation in Port Macquarie and has worked with people with disability for more than 15 years. Starting as a volunteer in disability support, Karol has since set up several innovative businesses to support work for the intellectually disabled, including a second-hand clothing shop, a recycling business and a recycling building Finalists | materials business. These businesses have helped support employment in this regional community. Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year Karol is an open-minded regional business woman who is always seeking out business improvements, new innovation and better ways to support the development of her staff. Karol’s Foundation plans to create more businesses with the vision of employing more adults with intellectual disabilities in roles that provide meaningful employment. 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 7 Annette Steele Annette became CEO of Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council in 2010 and has grown Council services from $130,000 per annum to $3 million per annum. Her tenure has resulted in employment of 30 Aboriginal people, 39 student placements, four community services and welfare student places, and 10 conservation land management student places. Annette has also assisted in the development of successful tripartite partnerships with Broken Hill Land Council and Deniliquin Land Council to conduct the Ability Links Program for Aboriginal communities funded through Aging Disability and Home Care Services. Annette was successful in securing the tender for Going Home Staying Home package for Adults and Families, funded by Family and Community Services. Annette is an asset to the Aboriginal community and is well- respected in the broader community. Rex Airlines Regional Woman of the Year Her major achievements include implementing a range of projects and strategies that will sustain education, job opportunities, health and housing Finalists | into the future for Aboriginal people across regional NSW. Annette is considered a positive role model in the region and is most recognised for her leadership, passion and dedication. 8 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS Finalists A.H Beard Community Hero Award Professor Fadia Ghossayn Fadia founded the Australian Lebanese Foundation in 2001 at The University of Sydney. The Foundation provides scholarships that require multi faith membership. Additionally, Fadia heads another Foundation that runs an Academy that annually calls for 15 young people from Australia to go to Lebanon to train on how to be a responsible Australian citizen. Fadia has made achievements in inspiring and mentoring young Lebanese in Australia to reach their full potential and strive for their goals while embracing Australian values. Through raising funds for scholarships and providing opportunities for all across the board, her tenacity has resulted in better cultural understanding and cooperation between Lebanese and Australian people, providing positive role models for new migrants and refugees. Not only has Fadia worked tirelessly to advocate for cultural cohesion and harmony through her work for the Australian Lebanese Foundation, she has also made an outstanding contribution by advocating for special projects and acting as a liaison between various agencies, while supporting numerous charities. 2016 NSW WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS 9 Kathy Kelly Kathy is the co-founder of the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation (TKYF), a charity fostering a more responsible drinking culture through education and initiatives targeting youth, families, sporting groups and the broader community, as well as through strong advocacy to local, State and Federal government. ‘Take care’ is what we say to our loved ones when we say goodbye. Building on this and using Thomas’ initials, Take Kare is the Foundation’s central platform to instigate behavioural and social change around alcohol and drinking habits. The TKYF raised $1.4 million for a Safe Space in Sydney’s CBD and Darlinghurst on Friday and Saturday nights. Take Kare volunteers in high-vis jackets assist in defusing conflict, stopping sexual assault and helping intoxicated young people. Since December 2014, there has been over A.H Beard Community Hero Award 20,000 preventive interactions to support the vision of ‘getting all of our children home safely’. Parents will never know that their children are Finalists | home safe and sound as a result of this program.