Presenting your 2022 Westfield Local Hero

We are excited to announce your 2022 successful Westfield Local Hero for Tea Tree Plaza.

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 Tea Tree Plaza Local Hero is:

Kimberley Cepon

Shoe Boxes of Love Inc.
Inspirational. Generous. Compassionate

Kimberley Cepon springs into action whenever disaster strikes, providing much-needed basics to those hit by floods, cyclones and fires.

Kimberley is the founder of the non-profit Shoe Boxes of Love, which distributes gift boxes packed with donated essential and luxury personal-care items to people affected by disaster. The gifts help people maintain dignity by being able to brush their teeth and wear deodorant.

Not one to leave anyone out, Kimberley also makes a point of providing small personal care packs to the dedicated SES and emergency service volunteers deployed to disaster areas.

Kimberley’s charity grew out of her desire to help a handful of people affected by the 2011 Brisbane floods. Soon afterwards, she realised she could help thousands more across Australia by encouraging many other people to get involved.

Kimberley is also passionate about supporting people in drought-affected communities, providing them with new socks and underwear. She was moved to tears after receiving feedback about how much these mean to the recipients, who often feel forgotten and can't afford to buy new items of clothing.

“We provide our local community with meaningful, tangible, affordable and practical ways of contributing to disaster relief. Our work involves helping people to help others,” Kimberley says.

Shoe Boxes of Love will use the funds to provide 250 sets of luxury personal-care items to drought-affected rural communities.

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.

Chris Okely from Adelaide Atletico FC
Chris Okely is giving local children and young adults with a disability an opportunity to play soccer in Adelaide Atletico FC inclusion side. As someone with cerebral palsy, Chris is an exceptional role model for his players, who have doubled in number since he launched the side two years ago.

Kathy Rutledge from Cancer Patients Foundation
Kathy Rutledge is the driving force behind Look Good Feel Better, which helps local cancer patients respond to appearance side effects while receiving treatment. The retired nurse has spent 13 years coordinating workshops in South Australia to help women counteract skin dryness and sun sensitivity and learn techniques to cope with hair loss.

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