Presenting your 2020 Westfield Local Heroes

We are excited to announce your three 2020 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Bondi Junction.

These inspiring local leaders were nominated and voted for by the community and will now be awarded a $10,000 grant for each of their affiliated organisations to help their important work to grow.

Westfield Local Heroes is a community recognition and grants program, connecting and enriching local communities. Launched in 2018, the program spans our 42 trade areas across Australia and New Zealand. In 2020, we are awarding $1.26 million to 126 local organisations.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here.

Your three Westfield Bondi Junction Local Heroes are:

Laya Slavin

Our Big Kitchen
Passionate. Selfless. Compassionate
Story body-BondiJunction LayaSlavin

Our Big Kitchen (OBK) is one of those feel-good organisations that add soul to a suburb. The big heart behind the industrial-sized Bondi kitchen is Laya Slavin, who co-founded it with her husband, Rabbi Dr Dovid Slavin. Supported by volunteers from every walk of life, they have turned their wish to do good into a tangible reality that is far bigger than the 70,000 nutritious meals they provide a year. On most days, Laya is either in the kitchen cooking with volunteers, delivering food to people in need, visiting a hospital or being a shoulder to cry on.

Find out more >

Siobhan O'Toole

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
__Motivated. Selfless. Resilient __
Story body-Bondi Junction Siobhan O Toole
Photo courtesy of: Andrew Worrsam

Breast cancer survivor Siobhan O’Toole is on a mission to help cancer patients use exercise to endure and recover from their chemotherapy treatment, and reduce the chance of a recurrence of the disease. She’s raising funds so more patients have access to Cancer Exercise prehab program at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital.

Find out more >

Sophie Smith

Running for Premature Babies
Caring. Authentic. Humble
Story body-Bondi Junction Sophie Smith2
Photo courtesy of: John Appleyard/ News Local

Sophie Smith responded to the grief of losing her prematurely born triplets by founding a running charity that has raised more than $3.5 million, funding critical research and providing 56 pieces lifesaving neonatal equipment and research to give premature babies a better chance of survival. So far she has helped approximately 6000 babies.

Find out more >