Your 2025 Westfield Penrith Local Hero is:

Lana Borg

Mama Lana's Community Foundation

Committed. Enthusiastic. Kind.

Lana Borg is the dedicated Founder and Director of Mama Lana’s Community Foundation, an organisation deeply committed to improving the lives of people in need. Through her tireless efforts, Lana leads a devoted team of 70 volunteers to provide over 300 nutritious, home-cooked meals daily, six days a week, to anyone facing hardship. Her unwavering compassion ensures that everyone she serves experiences dignity, kindness, and genuine care.

Under Lana’s leadership, Mama Lana’s extends beyond meals, offering essential clothing, toiletries, groceries, and school supplies to families, individuals escaping domestic violence, and those experiencing homelessness. Many patrons have transformed their own lives through the stability and nurturing environment Lana has created, with several becoming volunteers themselves. 

“I honestly love everything about what we achieve every day at Mama Lanas and couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” says Lana.  

“To know that so many people who would normally go hungry, go to bed with a full stomach puts a huge smile on my face and warms my heart.” 

Despite limited funding and increasing demand, Lana continues to inspire her community, creating a supportive environment where volunteers feel valued and empowered. Her impact reaches more than 1,800 people each week, fostering hope, mental well-being, and connection.

The $20,000 grant will be used to fund ingredients, grocery items and operating costs so Mama Lana’s can continue providing free, nutritious meals 6 days a week to people in need.

We’d like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent.

Kris Gauci from Our Community Cares

Kris works relentlessly with her volunteers to support vulnerable people in Penrith, from children to the elderly, to the homeless and people suffering from illness. Her initiatives include food programs, virtual reality in aged care, and fundraising for patient comfort equipment. She is a role model for her community, inspiring young people to play their part.

Mischelle McCallum from Barnardos Australia

Mischelle is a devoted Barnardos foster mum, offering vulnerable children in Penrith a safe, loving home and vital emotional support. She helps those in her care build their resilience, self-esteem, and hope. Beyond fostering, she advocates for foster care and inspires others to help, ultimately strengthening her local community and giving the children a chance to thrive.

In Memoriam: David Trist from Wounded Heroes

Westfield Penrith would like to acknowledge David Trist AOM as a Westfield Local Heroes finalist, who sadly passed away prior to the voting phase. In recognition of his achievement as a finalist and his outstanding contribution to the Penrith community, Westfield Penrith will donate $5,000 to his nominated organisation, Wounded Heroes Australia.

Driven by his own wartime experience of hardship and tragedy, 99-year-old Mr Trist raised funds for Legacy every year for over 60 years, and in latter years, impressed by the passion of Jemma Pigott from Wounded Heroes Australia, he opened doors for them in Penrith and St Marys, and supported them here at Westfield, to help veterans and their families access urgent crisis relief and financial aid. Mr Trist was driven by a desire to help people.

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Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Penrith nominees and their organisations.