Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

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

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 Knox Local Hero is:

Sophie Ashdowne

Pinchapoo
Vibrant. Energetic. Immersive

Teenager Sophie Ashdowne spends every spare hour volunteering, and played a crucial role in keeping the operations of Pinchapoo personal hygiene charity going during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Sophie lives with Down syndrome but does not let it define her. She is passionate about giving back to society and promoting workplace inclusion for those living with a disability. She leads by example and teaches those around her to see ABILITY in disability.

Pinchapoo distributes more than eight million personal hygiene products to thousands of disadvantaged men, women and children nationally every year.

Sophie has volunteered for the Bayswater-based charity since participating in the Duke of Edinburgh program in 2019. During the lockdowns, she assembled thousands of environmentally friendly personal hygiene packs from home with her mum.

Sophie is a vibrant natural leader and role model for other volunteers. She immediately connects with anyone she meets at Poo HQ and helpfully shows them how to go about their assigned tasks.

On Australia Day this year, Sophie was named the Knox Young Citizen of the Year in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the community.
“Everyone is born with a purpose. I try to be the best person that I can be,” Sophie says.

Pinchapoo will put the grant towards providing products for the 1000s of hygiene packs distributed to the community.

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.

Darren Hill from Rotary Club of Knox
As a senior member of the Rotary Club of Knox, Darren Hill devotes much of his time to raising funds to support the wellbeing, education and development of Knox youth. His work contributes to bursaries for children who cannot afford school fees, mental health consultations for young people and books for primary school children.

Kim Hallworth from Southern Cross Kids' Camp Knox
For 19 years, selfless Kim Hallworth has devoted her time to support at-risk children in her community so they can go on the life-changing Southern Cross Kids Camp Knox. She raises funds, trains fellow volunteers and uses annual leave to lead the five-day day camp. Kim has helped close to 500 children through her volunteering.

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