Presenting your 2020 Westfield Local Heroes

We are excited to announce your three 2020 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Knox.

These inspiring local leaders were nominated and voted for by the community and will now be awarded a $10,000 grant for each of their affiliated organisations to help their important work to grow.

Westfield Local Heroes is a community recognition and grants program, connecting and enriching local communities. Launched in 2018, the program spans our 42 trade areas across Australia and New Zealand. In 2020, we are awarding $1.26 million to 126 local organisations.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here.

Your three Westfield Knox Local Heroes are:

Allan Small

The Basin CFA
Kind. Big-hearted. Generous
Story body-Knox Allan Small

Allan Small has been a selfless volunteer for the Country Fire Authority (CFA) for more than 50 years, thanks to his love for his wife and her family. Allan's brothers-in-law wasted no time in recruiting him to join the local fire brigade when he started courting their sister in the 1960s. Over the past 53 years, other CFA volunteers in The Basin have become like family to him; and keeping people safe has become his passion. Allan is proud that his three sons have also volunteered as firefighters. "It gets in the blood," he says. "It's about protecting our own."

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Julienne Rankine

St Luke's Primary School Mini Vinnies
Passionate. Caring. Inspiring
Story body-Knox JulienneRankine V2

Teacher Julienne Rankine is touching hearts and showing children they are never too young to help. Julienne founded the St Luke's Primary School Mini Vinnies program, which is affiliated with the St Vincent de Paul Society, affectionately known as Vinnies. Over the past two years, volunteers from prep through to Year 6 have made and donated blankets and scarves during winter, fundraised by running clothing and cake stalls and put together toiletry packs. "This process is very empowering for the students. Their role is voluntary, and their enthusiasm is immense," Julienne says.

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Martina Eaton

CHAMPION - an initiative of the Temple Society Australia
Kind. Fair. Helpful
Story body-Knox MartinaEaton V2

Martina Eaton set up the CHAMPION community hub to help families put food on their tables when she recognised that many people don't qualify for Centrelink or other assistance. "I decided to start a service that would help these members of the community, not only with food parcels but also support to navigate a way out of the crises they were facing," says Martina, who is a Community Care Worker at The Temple Society Australia. CHAMPION has been open for seven years and stands for Community Hub and Meeting Place in Our Neighbourhood. It provides support to 300 clients a month.

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