Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce your 2022 successful Westfield Local Hero for Airport West.

The successful Westfield Local Heroes organisation, will receive a grant of $20,000 to help them continue to grow their impact in the local community. Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million.

In early 2023, we will open nominations for the 2023 Westfield Local Heroes program, so start thinking about those people in your communities who make a difference.

Your 2022 Westfield Airport West Local Hero is:

Ros McMaster

Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network
Willing. Diligent. Wonderful
Story body-AirportWest Ros McMaster

Tireless Ros McMaster devotes at least three days of her week to sorting donated, used clothing and furniture for people who require housing support including families escaping domestic violence and newly arrived refugees.

Ros is a volunteer for Rotary Inner Melbourne Emergency Relief Network, RIMERN which collects second-hand furniture, and homewares, cleans and tests appliances donated by the local community, saving tons of goods from landfill.

Without Ros and RIMERN, people experiencing homelessness would have no essential items or furniture as housing support provides four walls and very little else.

Ros’s work with the charity changes lives at little cost giving people a secure home and helping them get their lives in order.

The part that Ros enjoys most is selecting décor that matches the furniture and finding children’s items that match the ages of young recipients. This helps create a welcoming home that best suits her clients’ needs.

“We often supply everything the clients need, and we try to make the combination of items look smart so that the accommodation becomes a home to be proud of. However, we are constantly in need of donated goods that are fundamental to supporting those in need.” Ros says.

RIMERN will put the grant towards the purchase of large, second-hand white goods that will increase the number of clients being supported.

We also congratulate our finalists who will receive a $5,000 grant for the organisation they represent, and we thank them for their incredible contribution to the local community.

APW_2 finalists

Ellen Jacobsen from HoMie
Selfless Ellen Jacobsen has helped thousands of young Melburnians affected by hardship through her work with HoMie. The charity offers brand new HoMie clothing, as well as paid internships to help young people gain a Certificate III in retail.

Emily Unity from headspace
Altruistic Emily Unity is a passionate advocate for diverse young people as an Australian Youth Mental Health Advocate for headspace, which provides access to mental health support services and work and study opportunities to young people and their families. They use their lived experience to help ensure marginalised young people have equal access to services.

If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 13 11 14