Westfield Local Heroes 2019
Westfield Local Heroes is a recognition and awards program that connects and enriches communities in Australia and New Zealand. The program discovers and celebrates individuals who make a positive impact to their local community and/or environment.
For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here.
Daniel Beeson
TRY Australia
__Passionate . Positive . Persevering __
Daniel Beeson grew up amid adversity and has taken some wrong turns. But he has always landed on his feet and learnt lessons from his experiences.He uses his life experience to help vulnerable young people do the best they can for themselves and is a dedicated mentor and coach. Daniel was a volunteer for three years at TRY Australia before he was employed as mentoring coordinator. In this role, he has developed positive connections with key stakeholders and established mentoring programs for seven schools across Melbourne’s south-east in just four months.
James Seeary
Operation Newstart Casey
__Patient . Caring . Inspirational __
James Seeary worked in formal education for 10 years before moving to Operation Newstart Casey, where he is Program Manager and has been helping at-risk youth for the past 12 years.Despite his senior position, he engages directly with participants. “I enjoy getting out and getting dirty along-side the young people engaged in our adventure activities and this, in turn, enables me to build strong and trusting relationships.” As a result, he has become a caring father figure for many of the more than 350 young people who have completed programs over the years.
Judy Martin
Endeavour Ministries
__Dedicated . Energetic . Passionate __
Judy Martin has always felt compelled to help those in need.In 1994 an opportunity arose to open an op shop with volunteers from different churches and community organisations to raise funds to provide food vouchers to people in need. Judy jumped at the chance and has been volunteering for more than five days a week ever since. The organisation has expanded over the decades, and Judy now leads a team of more than 100 professional volunteers providing a range of services for families in crisis in the Endeavour Hills, Lysterfield and Doveton communities.
Lauren Moore
Abacus Learning Centre
__Inspirational . Intense . Forward-thinking __
Lauren Moore’s world was turned upside down when a paediatrician gave her 18-month old son an autism diagnosis and said he would never speak or have meaningful relationships. The only advice offered was to find good respite services.Lauren had never heard of autism and had to look it up in the dictionary. Then she researched how to give Billy the best chance she could.She discovered ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) therapy and started using the method at home with Billy.Other parents were impressed with his progress and asked Lauren to help their children.
Recognising all our 2019 nominees
We congratulate all of our finalists and nominees and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.
View all of the finalists, nominees and their organisations
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