2010 Central Coast Community Congress "Real People Doing Real Things" Community Building Awards
The Community Building Awards presentation was held on Thursday, October 28th at the Erina Room, Erina Centre (near library) at Erina Fair.
The winners are:
INDIVIDUAL IN A VOLUNTARY CAPACITY - LEE TRETHOUVEN
Lee has been successful in building the confidence of migrants who attend the "English Circle". The Circle is a conversation class teaching English to migrants and refugees and is run by volunteers.
Lee has continued to introduce participants to new friendships combating isolation, supporting them in their quest to speak English. Lee is very active in the community and is also the secretary of the Central Coast African community and a member of singing hands.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - DAVE MOYLE AND VICKIE HOWMAN
Dave is involved with the Chertsey Community and School Gardens. Providing hard labour and a "get in and do it" attitude. He leads by dedication 5 days a week and has a keenness to contribute and learn more about Gardening.
Vickie is involved in several projects and community initiatives in her local area; Youth Brekky Club, Youth Centre Weekly Cooking Programme and Harmony Day. Vickie is also a prominent member of the Kincumber Action Team.
INDIVIDUAL IN A PAID CAPACITY - DANIELLE HABIB
Danielle is employed with the Northern Settlement Services as Settlement Support Officer to provide information, referral, case work and community development to migrants and refugees within the first 5 months of arrival in Australia.
Danielle's primary skill is her ability to develop professional, personal and community relationships with people from all cultural and socio economic backgrounds. Danielle is an advocate for social equity and fairness both through her community connections and sense of social justice and not only CALD population of the Central Coast but women in General.
VOLUNTARY GROUP/ORGANISATION - MMAD (YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE)
MMAD Crew is a group of young people under 30 who work together to make an active difference in their own lives and in the lives of others in their community through volunteering.
This group learns to overcome personal adversity through giving to and helping others in need. Leadership and character development is developed through involvement in community events and project.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - KBT COMMUNITY NURSERY
The KBT Community Nursery is a partnership between Housing NSW, The Botanic Gardens Trust "Community Greening" Program and Community Volunteers.
The Nursery has a volunteer base of 27 with over 140 families registered to receive free plants monthly. Skills that the volunteers bring to their project are varied and wide.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION - CENTRAL COAST CHILDREN'S CHOIR
The Central Coast Children's Choir - founded by Jenny Bell offering education in choral music making with a focus on musicianship, personal growth, the joy of singing and the value of community service.
To the children in our community the Central Coast Children's Choir director Jenny Bell brings a love of singing by teaching choral techniques basic music theory, sight reading and vocal coaching in an enjoyable and supportive environment.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - FOOD INTERGRITY GROUP
The Food Integrity Group (FIG) is a local group of enthusiastic and dedicated community members who have developed a co-operative system to provide locally grown fresh organic food to the local community.
The FIG members and volunteers have all developed skills in operating the organic fruit and vegetable co-op as well as developing systems to manage a large number of orders, deliveries and enquiries.
The FIG also provide an opportunity for interested parties, individuals and experts to provide information to the community regarding organic food and food intergrity.
ART AND CULTURE - MADALYN WARD
Northern Wyong Shire Arts Service lead by Madalyn Ward is an arts and culture initiative providing skills professional and holistic development for young people and young emerging artists 12 - 25 yrs.
The arts services provides employment, training and mentoring opportunities for young artists and young people. This is provided through: Art Development Programs, Art Business Seminars, Youth Street Markets.
NWSYAS has been responsible for re-establishing an arts and culture "hub" which young people 12 - 25 yrs have become creators, collaborators, educators, and participants.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - AUSTRALIAN SONGWRITER ASSIST INC
ASC Songwriter Assist Inc is a non-profit incorporated association designed to assist and support Australian songwriters in matters pertaining to all aspects of their craft, career and lifestyle.
ABCD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP EVENT - HARMONY DAY 2010
Harmony Day 2010 was held in Kibble Park Gosford to celebrate cultural diversity. There were 23 different ethnic communities involved in organising and participating the day which worked in partnership.
The partners came together to work with the ethnic communities to empower them through mentoring and event management processes. This led to the ethnic groups working together as a team and also building their strengths on working as individual communities.
YOUNG PERSON AGED 12 - 25 YRS - JAMES GRUBISA
James in involved with MUSE 4 Youth a music program for young people that was inspired by James after his involvement in the GOATS Family Festival. Muse 4 Youth provides a safe drug and alcohol free space to perform, sell their merchandise share gigs and industry knowledge.
James is an established musician and plays the guitar and helps young people in forming rock bands. He also teaches music and his knowledge of music industry is extensive. James drums, guitar and bass and is an excellent mentor and role model for young people.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - BRITNEY KNIGHT
Britney assists in her local community with: Monthly KBT discos, KBT funfest and Youth Week events.
PROJECT WITHIN A BUSINESS - LAKE HAVEN SHOPPING CENTRE - WARNERVALE ANNUAL FAIR
Lake Haven Shopping Centre has sponsored the Warnervale Annual Fair since 2008. The shoppping Centre's willingness to support local community events for the benefit of the community both financially and by advertising in their centre and the local press since 2009.
Lake Haven Centre Management has supportued the Fair by substantial financial donations, which has increased each year, through gift vouchers for the recipients of the Warnervale Annual Fair Community Awards and by placing full colour advertisements for the Annual Fair in the local press media.
PROJECT WITHIN A GOVERNMENT ORGANISATION - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SCHOOLS AS COMMUNITY CENTRES
Schools as Community Centre (SACC) aims to influence the planning and intergration of service delivery to meet the needs of families with Children 0 - 8 yrs. It supports families to ensure that children have a healthy start to school and to strengthen the community.
The 5 SACC's on the Central Coast: Blue Haven, Chertsey, Northlakes, Umina and Wyong have a great understanding of community development and workings with communities of the Central Coast.
***HIGHLY COMMENDED - WYONG SHIRE COUNCIL (BETTER FUTURES PROGRAM) AND GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL (THE HUB YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT VENUE)
Wyong Shire Council - Better Futures Program "For the Love of Music" was a project created by Wyong Shire Council with funding from NSW Better Futures. The project was a series of music events and activities for 9 - 18 yrs olds, held throughtout the Shire.
Gosford City Council - The Hub Youth Entertainment Venue has been transformed from a small youth centre to an Australian first youth entertainment venue with state of the art sound, lighting, staging and cutting edge programs for all young people.
***FEEDBACK from MMAD (YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE) regarding the awards night.....
Our wonderful young volunteers were incredibly honoured to receive the volunteer award from your organisation at the 2010 Community Building Awards Night. This award has been so powerful & encouraging in helping them to continue their good work. One of the volunteers has since been awarded the Youth Award for the Australia Day Awards, and another is in the second round of the nomination process for the Rotary Young Champions Award.
We would like to thank you for this initiative. It is especially rare for young people such as those we work with to be given a pat on the back for thier good work in the community. For them, recognition such as that awarded to them by CCCC is life changing. It has given them a belonging in the community & hope for the future. They are so proud.
We are proud. They have worked so hard not only to change their own lives, but to give back to the community & help change the lives of others in need.