Presenting your 2021 Westfield Local Heroes

We are excited to announce your three 2021 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Fountain Gate.

Each of the affiliated organisations of the successful heroes will be awarded a $10,000 grant to support their work to thrive. Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million.

For further information or to discover the Westifield Local Heroes at other Westfield centres, visit the Westfield Local Heroes website.

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Your three Westfield Fountain Gate Local Heroes are:

Ashvina De Zoysa

COOK4CALD
Passionate. Inspiring. Selfless

Young Ashvina De Zoysa has defied the odds, sourcing donations and recruiting volunteers to deliver cooked meals to 80 people in her area of Melbourne every Sunday last summer. Ashvina was told she was too inexperienced to succeed, but her COOK4CALD program will be back with its delicious and heart-warming feasts this summer.

Find out more >

Julia Battams

Equine Pathways
Caring. Inspirational. Wonderful

Julia Battams scaled down her successful equestrian business to help more than 50 people with disabilities reach their potential through Equine Pathways Australia (EPA). Her charity’s two-day clinics deliver physical and mental health benefits for the riders, some of whom find work in the equine industry. The program also helps high-performing riders prepare for prestigious events such as the Paralympics.

Find out more >

Matt Runnalls

Mindfull Aus
Empathetic. Authentic. Determined

Matt Runnalls was driven to start Mindfull Aus to equip children with the skills to not only manage but thrive through life. His ground-breaking program has encouraged thousands of children to identify, control and express their emotions in positive ways.

Find out more >

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We congratulate our finalists and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.

Kerry Alexander from Melbourne Youth Chorale
Kerry Alexander raised funds and improved communication to save the Melbourne Youth Chorale when it was on the brink of collapse. The 35-year-old organisation doesn’t charge tuition fees because it believes every child deserves the gift of music.

Margaret Caffyn from City of Casey TAC L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program
Margaret Caffyn has spent over 1000 hours teaching disadvantaged young people to drive through the TAC Casey L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program. Without her help, many would not get their driver’s licence. The program improves the learners’ employment prospects and helps them build confidence and social skills.

Simon Bloomer OAM from Carry On (Victoria)
Simon Bloomer OAM is a 72-year-old Vietnam veteran and has volunteered with Carry On (Victoria) for more than a quarter of a century to help other Australian Defence Force veterans who have been physically or mentally impacted by combat. The charity helps struggling veterans and their families into low-cost and safe housing and on to a brighter future.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield Fountain Gate nominees and their organisation