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

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.

Your three Westfield Marion Local Heroes are:

Matthew Townsend

Lion Hearts Learning
Humble. Selfless. Dedicated

Devoted dad Matthew Townsend co-founded Lion Hearts Learning to give children in South Adelaide a free super-hygienic place to interact with others while undergoing cancer treatment. The charity is like a second full-time job for Matthew, whose daughter Codee-Jo was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two.

Find out more >

Nick Lee

Jodi Lee Foundation
Passionate, Innovative, Empathetic

Widowed dad Nick Lee has devoted 10 years of his life to educating the people of South Australia about the early detection and prevention of bowel cancer. He does this through the Jodi Lee Foundation, which he set up in memory of his wife, Jodi, who was diagnosed at the age of 39.

Find out more >

Pauline Dodd

Blackwood Action Group
Energetic, Passionate, Caring

Blackwood Action Group volunteer Pauline Dodd is a driving force behind projects that help people feel they live in a caring community. Pauline coordinates events like the Christmas Tree Festival and history group activities and information resource production. BAG plays an integral role in improving local amenities, streetscaping and train stations.

Find out more >

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

Craig Scott from Goodwood Saints Football Club Inc
Goodwood Saints Football Club President Craig Scott has added to competitive success by making the club a stand-out achiever off the field. Craig is the driving force behind the club’s female teams and promoting good mental health for players.

Emma Georgiadis from Enlighten Education
Radio presenter Emma Georgiadis uses her experience as a school teacher to connect with young women and build their confidence. She’s doing this through Enlighten Education in-school workshops that help girls decode the mixed messages they receive and through her podcast, Empowerhouse, to help build attitudes of self-love, self-worth and self-belief.

Leigh Aitken from Operation Flinders Foundation
For the past 11 years, Leigh Aiken has devoted most of his free time to volunteering for Operation Flinders Foundation. In that time, he has led 14 expeditions and directly helped 140 young at-risk people become the best version of themselves.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield Marion nominees and their organisations