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

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, click here.

Your three Westfield West Lakes Local Heroes are:

Alana Giaccio

All Abilities Cheer and Dance
Inclusive. Selfless. Genuine

Alana Giaccio uses dance and cheerleading to give people with disabilities an opportunity to engage in fun exercise. She started her All Abilities Cheer and Dance studio so people in Adelaide have a chance to enjoy inclusive and accessible sports. Her 92 students, aged three to fifty-five, build their balance and spatial awareness and learn how to work in a team.

Find out more >

Colleen Billows

Ronald McDonald House South Australia
Dedicated. Committed. Caring

Inspirational 85-year-old Colleen Billow has been supporting families with seriously ill children for more than two decades. Colleen is a dedicated volunteer at Ronald McDonald House (RMH) South Australia and helps out-of-town families while their children receive treatment at the Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Known as Nana Colleen, she recently abseiled down a 33-storey building to raise money for the charity.

Find out more >

Katerina Iliopoulos

HeartKids Limited - South Australia Division
Inspiring. Passionate. Giving

Grandmother Katerina Iliopoulos has sold mountains of Greek shortbread to raise money for families affected by congenital heart disease. Over the last three years, she has raised nearly $20,000 for HeartKids, which supported her granddaughter when she needed to go to Melbourne for surgery. The charity advocates for people with the disease, funds research and helps families through their journey.

Find out more >

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

Amy Rowe from Project Potential Adelaide
Altruistic therapeutic educator Amy Rowe provides a well-rounded education to people with intellectual disabilities, so they can live an independent and fulfilling life. Amy founded Project Potential Adelaide in 2019 to provide one-on-one lessons to help people navigate their world.

Ella Stratton from HAS Foundation
Ella Stratton makes the most difficult times a little gentler for families of children with serious illnesses. She is the founder of the HAS Foundation, which she created in memory of her son Hunter, who passed away when he was 12.

Marigold White from Uniity
Marigold White is dedicated to building intergenerational connections in her community and helping people to feel a sense of belonging. As a migrant to Australia, Marigold knows first-hand how important family-like connections are. This inspired her to co-found Uniity, a not-for-profit that runs events and activities where people can make lifelong friends.

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

Recognising all our 2021 nominees

View all of the Westfield West Lakes nominees and their organisations