2021 Local Celebration Award Winners

Penrith is home to many dedicated, selfless and inspirational people and Council’s Local Celebration Awards are an opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate these people in our community. Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page to find out more, or see information about our 2021 Local Celebration Awards winners below.

2021 Citizen of the Year: Kristine Gauci  

 

Kris is co-founder and chairperson of Our Community Cares, a charity started in 2013 to assist the needy and aged by providing support to help enhance their quality of life.   

Based in Penrith, Our Community Cares is dedicated to fundraising for people only in our Local Government Area.  Kris believes that funds raised by the community in Penrith, should stay here to help our own community.    

She has worked tirelessly to get a wide range of programs up and running through collaborative fundraising efforts in the local community.     

These efforts started with the creation of hampers for the needy at Christmas and then gathered momentum to become so much more, including craft stalls, wonderful high tea events and an annual fundraising Gala Ball.  

Programs championed by Our Community Cares have included:  a sensory room for Nepean Hospital Dementia ward; a connect program for the elderly and Penrith high school students; gifts for isolated aged care residents at Christmas; food donations for the Penrith Community Kitchen and fund raising for the purchase of chemotherapy chairs for Nepean Cancer Care Centre. 

Kris was also recently honoured to be elected President on the board of the Penrith Community Kitchen.  She has enjoyed working shoulder to shoulder with their wonderful volunteers to help make food for those in need during the pandemic.  A new program for school students with no lunch has also started through the Kitchen in recent times, which Kris aims to continue after the pandemic passes. 

Kris has an amazing ability to bring helpers together to make a big difference for people who most need support in Penrith.  She works around the clock to better our community and is a worthy recipient of our 2021 Citizen of the Year award. 

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page.

2021 Young Citizen of the Year: Daena Madon 

 

Daena is a remarkable 17-year-old whose passions include public speaking, design, photography, journalism and above all, volunteering for good causes.  

At just 12 years of age, she convinced her family to foster a Guide Dogs Australia puppy because she wanted to help a person who was vision impaired.    

Daena has been involved with the Penrith division of St Johns Ambulance as a cadet for the past six years and in 2020, was recognised as their Senior Cadet of the Year for her service and volunteering efforts.    

She has also been recognised by her school for her community service endeavours, by Volunteering Australia for making a difference in the community and received a commendation from Charity Group Variety for donating her hair to help children with alopecia.   

She has also written articles and designed the front covers of the monthly award-winning newsletter for the Lions Club of Emu Plains NSW for the past two years, was selected by the Rotary Club to attend the Rotary Youth leadership camp and participates in the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Door Knock appeal amongst other fundraising endeavours.  

Daena’s extraordinary contributions across a wide range of good causes over a number of years make her our 2021 Young Citizen of the Year.    

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page.

2021 Mayor’s Local Heroes: Cathy and Marzi DeSanti

 

Cathy and Marzi are the backbone of the wonderful community spirit that exists within Thornton estate in Penrith.    

Moving to Thornton after the loss of their Winmalee home in the 2013 bushfires, Cathy and Marzi were determined to re-establish the close community network they had previously enjoyed in their old neighbourhood.    

As one of the first residents to settle in the newly established estate, they were involved in the ‘Welcome to Thornton’ project which handed out welcome packs to new residents as they moved into their new homes.  

Marzi co-ordinated the establishment of Thornton’s community garden project, which beyond supplying fresh vegetables, has become a thriving community hub where people can meet and work together to foster relationships.  

Marzi also arranged for funding to purchase 2000 bass fingerlings and ran a community event to release them into the canal running through the estate to help stop mosquitoes and keep the waterway healthy.  

Cathy has been the Secretary and Public Officer of Thornton Community Group Inc. as well as establishing the Thornton Welcomers Initiative, which hosts regular morning teas and continues to introduce a range of innovative, diverse and inclusive community programs. Cathy and Marzi are also recognised as being the driving force behind the Thornton Community Group and many of its projects. 

Their remarkable ‘can do’ attitude has seen this dynamic duo involved in a wide array of community activities and projects both within and beyond Thornton, making Cathy and Marzi worthy to be recognised as one of our 2021 Mayor’s Local Heroes. 

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page.

2021 Mayor’s Local Heroes: Gloria Lenon

 

Gloria is the long-standing President of both Nepean Legacy and the Penrith and Lower Blue Mountains War Widows' Guild.  As she will be retiring at the ripe old age of 85 at the end of her current terms of office, her communities wanted to recognise her incredible work. 

Gloria has worked tirelessly to provide counseling and support to war widows after they have joined Nepean Legacy and the Penrith and Lower Blue Mountains War Widows' Guild.  She is known for always making people feel welcome and at ease with her friendliness and warmth, as well as always being available to provide support - no matter what hour of the day or night. 

Having given 15 years of her life to helping members of both groups Gloria has guided members through incredibly difficult times and has helped improve the quality of life for many war widows across the Penrith LGA. 

Gloria richly deserves to be recognised as one of our 2021 Mayor’s Local Heroes. 

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page

2021 Community Service: Robert Rayner 

 

Robert is well known and appreciated in the local Kingswood community for his active role in keeping the area safe and clean for the community to enjoy.  

He tends to the local community pantry, the book library and community garden in Wainwright Park, so that people in need know they can always go to the park to get a book or something to eat.  

Relentless in cleaning up rubbish at the park and around the local Post Office, Robert is applauded in Kingswood for actively promoting kindness and consideration for all.    

He also tirelessly administrates the Kingswood Area Community Page on Facebook to keep the community updated with local notices and job vacancies, public transport information, updates about accidents and other important news like product and vehicle safety recall information.  

Robert is recognised by our 2021 Community Service award for making the Kingswood community a better place for everyone.  

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page

2021 Community Service: Michael Allen  

 

Mike is a relatively recent resident of Penrith, having only to moved into the area in 2017 from his birthplace in the Northern Beaches.  But he has always had an affinity with Western Sydney, from his long-term work in social housing and his various community positions for organisations that have Penrith within their catchment areas.  These include being Chair of Leep for four years from 2015 (formerly TriCommunityExchange) a local not-for-profit focused on closing the digital divide for communities experiencing disadvantage. 

In his semi-retirement Mike still holds the roles of Deputy Chair Afford Disability Services and independent Chair of newly merged Link Wentworth Community Housing which has a strong presence in Penrith, now one of the largest community housing organisations in Australia. He is also a Board Member of the national organisation Aboriginal Hostels Limited and the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Housing Limited. 

Mike is the volunteer handyman for The Haven Nepean Women’s Shelter, an organisation dedicated to protecting and empowering women and children.  

Mike believes everyone deserves a safe haven, which is one of the reasons he is being recognised for making a difference with our 2021 Community Service award. 

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page.

2021 Community Service: Veronica Nou 

 

Veronica’s story of being a refugee from Cambodia is a powerful example of rising above life’s challenges and then giving back in return.   

She works tirelessly for all her customers as the head pharmacist at Morris Care & Advice Pharmacy in Oxley Park, where she is a welcoming face for the worried, sick and needy. She is always running charity drives such as: books for local kids, support for struggling families and kids with sensory or behavioral issues, support for foster kids and fundraising for different causes.  

Veronica also started a group called The Good Connections Project along with the pastor at her local church, to help lonely, isolated, or financially stressed members of her community. The project promotes positive community relationships - which has never been more important than during the Covid 19 pandemic - and provides free take-home packs.   

She also established a pen pal program between elderly and isolated local residents and children at her local school.  The program encourages greater communication between younger and older generations and helps combat loneliness.  

Veronica helped establish the Oxley Park Kids Drop-In Centre, a free safe space for kids who would otherwise be left unsupervised after school.  

Because she feels privileged to now be able to provide help for other refugees, Veronica is National Convener for Mums4Refugees, a group with over 4000 active volunteers nationwide.  She helps coordinate and run a wide variety of free services and activities for refugees including playgroups, English support, food bank services, emergency support, legal and medical support, as well as refugee advocacy.  

Described as having a heart of gold, Veronica always gives her time to others, and she is truly passionate about helping those who are less fortunate.  That’s why she is being recognised for making a difference with our 2021 Community Service award.  

Do you know someone who has made a positive impact in our community? Nominations for the Local Celebration Awards are now open and we want to hear from you! Visit our Local Celebration Awards web page.