Disability advocate Despina Hevalas heads up a list of 2016 Brimbank Australia Day Awards winners, being named citizen of the year for her or prolonged and outstanding community service.
A full-time carer for her 15-year-old son, Kon, and founder of Autism Angels, Ms Havelas has also helped develop numerous autism services in Brimbank.
She says she’s genuinely overwhelmed by the numbers of well-wishers backing her.
Eighteen-year-old Nyakeer Akoul’s dedication to eradicating discrimination and providing a voice for people marginalised in her community was recognised as young citizen of the year.
Alan Dash was presented with the lifetime achievement award for his passionate dedication to local education. The award is particularly special in that it is usually bestowed to organisations rather than individuals.
Mr Dash told Star Weekly he was ‘flummoxed’ to win the ward and said it was recognition of all organisations he has been involved with.
CATEGORY WINNERS
The awards recognised a host of other category winners, including an Argentinian migrant who learnt English at Sydenham Community Centre 15 years ago, then returned as a volunteer tutor.
Beatriz Castillo, who migrated to Australia in 1999, was named Brimbank council’s educator of the year for her work as a passionate, dedicated volunteer language tutor.
Since she first learnt English at the community centre in 2000, Beatriz has become known for her care of and attention to people with disabilities – and her cooking classes have also proved popular fare.
At Keilor’s Overnewton Castle last Monday, the council also acknowledged the work of the 25-member Sunshine Hospital visitor guide team, who took out the community wellbeing award.
Their five-day-a-week service is well known for making visitors and patients feel welcome, safe and supported, especially those who speak little or no English.
Artist Debbie Qadri received a gong for cultural achievement for an impressive body of work that includes the Wurundjeri Acknowledgement Mosaic on Kororoit Creek.
Linda Roberts, Friends of Kororoit Creek president for the past six years, was awarded the environmental achievement award for bringing “alive” forgotten areas of the creek, through clean-ups, working bees and public plantings.
Red Cross volunteers Margaret Wood and Malcolm Peacock, with more than 12 and 25 years’ service respectively, were presented the essential services excellence award for supporting and guiding others through desperate times.
They helped five Brimbank families over the past year, providing temporary accommodation, clothing, bedding, food and psychological first-aid, when the families were forced to leave their homes without notice.
FULL COVERAGE
Disability advocate named Citizen of the Year
Voice for equality named Young Citizen of the Year
