Your 2025 Westfield Tea Tree Plaza Local Hero is:

Kara Reek

HAS Foundation

Brave. Compassionate. Kind.

As part of a team that provides financial and emotional support to children with life-limiting illnesses and their families, Kara is dedicated to helping bereaved parents. 

In her role as Operations Manager for the HAS Foundation, she helps families in and around Woodforde whose children are receiving palliative care.  

Kara’s compassion, empathy and commitment are shaped by the loss of her daughter Lila, who was born with fluid on her brain, and who during her life was unable to walk, and was non-verbal and blind. 

“She taught me patience, what really matters in life and above all emotional intelligence,” says Kara.  
“Lila motivates me in my work with HAS. She was a beautiful loving, caring and happy girl. I believe my focus on fostering female connections and supporting other mums would make her very proud,” she adds. 

Through her work with HAS, Kara has personally designed the Held By HAS workshops, specifically for mothers navigating their unimaginable grief. They include meditation, breathwork and journaling, providing comfort, support and strength for mums.  

Kara shares the tools that helped her and fosters connection between bereaved mothers, to ensure no mother goes through her grief alone. 

“Armed with my own grief journey along this unexpected path, I believe I can help to give other bereaved mothers hope by showing them that you can survive the unimaginable,” she says.

The $20,000 grant will be used for workshops for bereaved mothers, funding facilitators, refreshments and take-home resources.

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

Kai Maddren from LIFE Community

For two decades, Chris has been helping vulnerable youth through the Wyong Neighbourhood Centre, mentoring those who face struggles such as mental health, housing, education or family. His own difficult past means he brings empathy and compassion as he delivers his vital support, which includes anger management programs and guidance through the justice system.

Kyron Lovell from Houghton Districts Football Club

Kyron is often at Houghton Districts Football Club five days a week, coaching junior and senior teams, and supporting players’ wellbeing. Under his leadership, he has taken junior boys to multiple grand finals and taken the senior men’s team up multiple divisions. His mentorship has expanded junior participation and brought mental health awareness to the club.

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

Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Tea Tree Plaza nominees and their organisations.