Westfield Local Heroes

Hope In A Suitcase

When a child enters foster care,
they often bring only a plastic
bag of belongings, which may
have been already dragged from
place to place. Through her work
in Willoughby with charity Hope
in a Suitcase, Fran is committed to
helping children displaced from
their homes, providing support to
families and young people.

The Rotary Club of Chatswood Roseville

For 34 years, John has volunteered with the Rotary Club of
Chatswood Roseville, supporting community projects for
children, young people, the elderly, and others in need. His
volunteer activities range from building a barbeque shelter,
to cooking at fundraising barbeques, transporting people
living with disabilities to appointments, and sourcing
presents at Christmas for those suffering hardship.

Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney

As Lifeline’s Community Engagement Manager in
Willoughby, Rachel creates innovative, accessible mental
health services to reach overlooked groups. She fosters
safe spaces for crisis support through projects like Connect
Library Hubs. Her work has supported thousands, as she
aims to play her part in preventing suicide and empowering
people to seek help.

Giant Steps Australia

Rachael Bowen has gone above and
beyond for 17 years to help people
with autism achieve their best life.
Rachael is the National Director
of Speech Therapy at Giant Steps
Australia, which provides innovative
educational opportunities for children
and adults on the autism spectrum.

Cerebral Palsy Alliance

Jenny Pride is an inspiring foster carer and a passionate
member of Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Over the past 23 years,
she has fostered over 40 children — more than half of whom
have high support needs. Now in her 70s, she continues to
foster children, care for her adopted daughter and support
other caregivers.

The Shepherd Centre for Deaf Children

John Lui uses his experience as a deaf person to help make the
bumpy teenage ride a little smoother. He’s the National Manager
of the Hear-For-You mentoring program, which runs workshops
that help deaf and hearing-impaired teenagers realise they are
not alone in navigating a world in which others take hearing for
granted.

The Survivor Hub

Brenda Lin is a tireless advocate
for sexual assault survivors, cofounding The Survivor Hub (TSH)
in 2021. She has spent most of
her life dedicated to supporting
survivors through public
advocacy and runs TSH full time
as a volunteer.
Through TSH, Brenda provides safe
spaces for survivors to connect,
share their experiences and
support each other.

Top Blokes Foundation

Angus Bowring is helping young men become Top
Blokes. As a dedicated youth worker with the Top Blokes
Foundation, Angus delivers invaluable programs to young
males between the ages of 10 and 24, aimed at making a
positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. His work
has benefitted hundreds of young men across Sydney.

Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney

Ceiny Maybury has been a Lifeline volunteer for the past
21 years, volunteering more than one thousand hours.
Many people across the North Shore owe their life to her
compassion. Her roles have included the answering the crisis
line, visiting recently bereaved families, support groups for
people who have attempted experienced mental health crisis
and volunteer training.