Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

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

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 Chermside Local Hero is:

Kerry Gordon

Precious Wings
Compassionate. Giving. Committed

Compassionate Kerry Gordon provides comfort to thousands of families across Queensland following the loss of their child.

Kerry, a paediatric nurse practitioner, started her charity, Precious Wings, in 2013 after her son Toby passed away. She was inspired to act because although she had supported many families facing the loss of a child, nothing had prepared her for her own grief.

Precious Wings is active in more than 40 hospitals, hospices and funeral homes in Queensland, providing love, hope, understanding and support to families, so they never feel alone.

This is done through lovingly assembled memory boxes with items including hand and footprint kits and a candle to light in times of reflection. There are also support group meetings for parents, memory box-making events and education sessions.

In addition, the charity educates healthcare staff about caring for bereaved families.

One of Kerry’s recent challenges has been the impact of COVID, which has led to the cancellation of her fundraising luncheons and disrupted the support group program, which is now run virtually during lockdowns.

“I am dedicated to improving the bereavement care and support provided to families and ensuring they have access to resources to create precious memories of their child,” Kerry says.

Precious Wings will put the grant towards setting up its new premises with storage racking, furniture, and IT equipment.

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.

Rebecca Adams from First Light Widowed Association
Rebecca Adams is a beacon of hope for younger widows. As the founder of the national charity First Light Widowed Association, Rebecca provides practical and emotional support and a listening ear to thousands of people. After losing her husband at 33, six weeks after their wedding, Rebecca put her energy into helping others in her position.

Uncle Gary Cobbo from Kurbingui Youth and Family Development
Kind Uncle Gary Cobbo is a respected Aboriginal Elder and has dedicated 30 years to mentoring and supporting hundreds of local young people. In his role at Kurbingui Youth and Family Development, he is always ready to offer people a feed and a safe place to have a yarn he hopes will lead to life-changing interventions.

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