Shoalhaven International Women's Day award recipients | photos

Under a marquee at Meroogal House, Nowra, volunteers from sporting groups and advocates for mental health, conservation, Aboriginal and multicultural communities were rewarded for the outstanding work they do in their Shoalhaven towns.

Shoalhaven City Council mayor Amanda Findley presented the awards in front of about 80 people on Saturday, March 9.

Alannah Mannix - Contribution to the Conservation of the Environment & Heritage and Contribution from a Young Woman aged 15-24. Alannah Mannix has represented Take 3 for the Sea in capacity of Junior Ambassador of her Surf Life Saving Club as well as at Bomaderry High School. She takes a lead role in beach cleans and educating Nippers and senior members of her club on issues relating to marine debris, and also instigates Take 3 talks and movie events at her school.

Andrea Francis - Contribution to Community and Social Services. Andrea has helped local community groups, churches and volunteers with advice and auditing support. More than 20 years ago, she co-founded A Taste of Paradise Farm, a not-for-profit that works with, and supports, at risk and disadvantaged young people from the Shoalhaven, Illawarra and Southern Highlands. 

Antonia Bewley - Contribution from a Young Woman aged 15-24. Antonia has been a persistent participant on the Student Environment Council and SRC. She has supported the school's Twilight Markets, co-ordinated the year 7 environment day, fund-raised for drought affected families and recently shaved her hair to raise funds for cancer research.

Belinda Pritchard - Contribution to Community Sporting Groups. Belinda is a volunteer with the Shoalhaven Community Charity Bingo Trust and makes supper for both Wednesday and Thursday night darts association teams. (Absent).

Christine Kettlewell - Contribution to Community Sporting Group. Christine is a senior instructor at Shoalhaven Pony Club and has been a member for 20 years. She has been secretary of Zone 28 for more than 10 years and is a member of the Worrigee Equestrian Common Committee. She is a big advocate for young people and is always encouraging.  

Fiona Stasiukynas - Contribution to Mental Health and Wellbeing. Fiona coordinates mental health first aid and suicide intervention training courses in the Shoalhaven. She has worked on the Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention and Awareness Young Writers Awards which highlights expressive writing around the subject of mental health. She has also helped develop a bereavement pack which is delivered by Police to families after a friend or family member has died by suicide.

Georgie Gordon - Contribution from a Young Woman aged 15-24. Georgie is committed to raising awareness and campaigning for the environment by using her skills as a media and communications student while also produced a film on the climate starring Warwick Keen.

Intan Kallus - Contribution to Multicultural Communities. Intan works vigorously to support local community groups and migrant groups in the Shoalhaven. She has devoted her time to promoting camaraderie and harmony between migrants and the wider Australian community and has retrained to become a full-time carer after her husband became unwell.

Aunty Julie Freeman - Contribution to Arts and Culture. Aunty Julie has been holding story time and hosting workshops and sharing and teaching Aboriginal Culture. She lives at Wreck Bay and has worked across a range of Indigenous Affairs since she was 16. 

Kudapa Na-Ngam - Contribution to Multicultural Communities. Kudapa has devoted her time to promote camaraderie and harmony between migrants and the wider community. She is heavily involved with the Multicultural Group activities, providing social and moral support and encouraging an easier assimilation of migrants to their new homeland.  

Lyn Golding - Contribution to Community and Social Services. A founding member of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program 20 years ago. Lyn was nominated by Mission Australia staff in recognition for her outstanding and ongoing work in the East Nowra community as a leader, mentor, grandmother and advocate for other grandparents raising grandchildren in the region. Lyn has raised her own family of three children and has raised four of her deceased daughter’s six children, the eldest being 20-years-old and the youngest being twins who are 11 this year. 

In its early days the program had no funding and Lyn volunteered her time and products to fund raise in order to raise awareness and reach out to other grandparents in the area who were taking on the task of raising their grandchildren.

“I’m so grateful to all the people who have supported me on the way including friends, other grandparents, parents, and the wonderful staff at Mission Australia. Mission Australia’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program provided a lot of support when I needed it most, and helped me to connect with so many others in our community who are in the same boat," she said.

Narelle Barry (Mother Magpie) - Contribution to a Community Sporting Group. Narelle has been involved with both the senior and junior Berry Shoalhaven Heads Rugby League Football Club for more than 40 years. You can find her at the canteen during home games and she has been a secretary, treasurer, ladies' auxiliary committee member and Group 7 Junior board member. Mother Magpie has worked tirelessly, fundraising for club members who hit hard times due to illness. She's the first person at the field and last to leave. 

Pauline Pakes, Loretta Dobb and Julie Rhodes (absent) - Contribution to a Community Sporting Group (Culburra Surf Life Saving Club). Each woman has volunteered in the Canteen and barbecue most Sundays during the Nippers' season for more than 10 years, serving what some say are the best bacon and egg rolls and coffee on the South Coast.

Suherni Dawson - Contribution to Multicultural Communities. Suherni is known for her genuine caring of others, generosity and dedication to support anyone morally and socially. Her cooking skills has helped many hungry families, especially in the Multicultural Group and she connects members of the group to the wider community.

Susan Smart - Contribution to Community Sporting Groups. Susan has coached at the Erowal Bay Tennis Club for 18 years, recruits and encourages juniors and supports them through each stage of their development. She has solely run the junior competition for 16 years and has been an active committee member since 2003, where she is now president.

Tina Broad - Contribution to Creative Arts. Tina is the conductor of the Glorious MUDsingers, a community choir in Milton she has run for 10 years. Tina reiterates the benefits of singing in teamwork, social skills, self-discipline and that singing connects neural pathways benefiting mental health. In the inclusion this year of the Ulladulla High School Choir at the Annual MUDsingers end of year Black Tie event was an immeasurable experience for the young performers.