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

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 Helensvale Local Heroes are:

Jodie Alderton

Harmony Hooves, Healing Hearts
Selfless. Rescuer. Rehabilitator

Jodie Alderton does more than rescue and re-home animals at Harmony Hooves, Healing Hearts. She also trains some of the chickens, goats and ponies for animal therapy. The animals do a great job supporting young people with anxiety, self-esteem and social issues and they bring comfort and joy to elderly people, psychiatric patients, and people with a disability.

Find out more >

Karen Germon

Hope in A Suitcase
Innovative. Dedicated. Leader

Karen Germon established the Queensland arm of Hope in a Suitcase to give dignity, hope and joy to children placed into emergency foster care with nothing or a few items in a plastic bag. Each child receives a suitcase containing new clothing, toiletries, activities and toys and a message that they are worthy and loved.

Find out more >

Melissa McGuinness

YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety
Courageous. Committed. Transformative

Melissa McGuinness co-founded founded non-profit YOU CHOOSE Youth Road Safety to empower young people to make better choices while driving after losing her son in a multiple fatality car crash he caused. She has inspired thousands to challenge the misguided belief that it is ‘part-of-growing-up’ for young people to engage in risky driving behaviour.

Find out more >

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

Amber Ford from Show The Way Inc.
Amber Ford has given thousands of vulnerable people food, clothing and hope through her Show The Way charity. Amber provides weekly cooked meals and provides hampers filled with pantry items, fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, clothing and blankets on other days.

Melanie McKenzie from Harrison's Little Wings
Mel McKenzie stepped up to fill a gap in support for women diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies when she founded Harrison’s Little Wings. The charity provides practical support to families, including meals, housekeeping and childcare, and someone to talk to as they deal with their uncertainty.

Nathan Gallagher from StandbyU Foundation
Nathan Gallagher helps protect hundreds of women and children from domestic violence safe through his work with the world-leading StandbyU Foundation. The charity provides people with a safety watch they can use to discreetly summon help at the touch of a button if they feel threatened.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield Helensvale nominees and their organisation