Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

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

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 Miranda Local Hero is:

Kaye Palmano

One Meal - It Makes a Difference
Determined. Passionate. Genuine
WLH 2022 Hero Miranda Story image

Determined Kaye Palmano works hard to provide hot meals to anyone in her community who is going through tough times.

Kaye has been the driving force behind the Miranda branch of One Meal – It Makes a Difference since it launched three years ago. Moreover, she was instrumental in helping the service adapt to increased needs during the COVID pandemic.

Kaye is the first volunteer to arrive and the last to leave every Tuesday when meals, fresh produce, breakfast packs and personal care items are lovingly provided to 60 people, including five families who rely on the charity.

To Kaye, creating community and connection with the patrons is just as important as the food, which shows in her famous positive spirit and ability to make everyone feel welcome and important.

Kaye knows what it’s like to go without, having been brought up by a widowed mother who sometimes had to turn to charities for help. For this reason, she considers it a privilege and an honour to help families and children.

“We not only provide food but also companionship and support. Those who attend our service and share their stories make me acutely aware of how much more we need to continue to do to help others,” Kaye says.

One Meal will use its funds in support of its Sutherland Shire operations, where it provides direct support to people experiencing homelessness or fleeing domestic violence

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.
WLH 2022 Finalist Miranda Story image

Karen Tsoumbaras from Project Youth
Compassionate Karen Tsoumbaras is a beacon of hope for hundreds of young people facing long-term unemployment. In her role as the Employment Education and Training Manager at Project Youth, Karen gently guides people aged 12 to 24 through her program to help them access education that improves their employment prospects.

Sarah Stanton from Skillz4me
Compassionate Sarah Stanton founded non-profit Skillz4me to provide a safe space for children with disabilities to enjoy a free sports program that celebrates their unique talents. Sarah believes children with disabilities can do many of the things a child without a disability can do, but they need more support and time.

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