Last week, Waterford MP Shannon Fentiman spoke in a column about the Wonderful Women of Waterford awards.
At the awards last week, Ms Fentiman said: “Every year, I am blown away by the incredible women who bring so much to the Waterford community. I am inspired by your passion, your dedication, your empathy and your intelligence.”
Here, we list the winners:
Hannah Kaihau: Hannah showed amazing community spirit after the recent floods. She was helping at the White House of Waterford which been inundated after her church called for volunteers. In year 10, she also developed a 3D print of a scoliometer to fit iPhone & Smartphones – an instrument used to estimate the amount of curve in a person’s spine. Hannah’s device can we used to identify spinal angles in children with deformities.
Leila Loei: Leila is an entrepreneur and a mentor for so many women, young girls and men. She is the secretary of Women Empowerment and Leadership association raising awareness on domestic violence prevention. Since April 2021, Leila has actively involved with refugees from Afghan community, in particular women and helping them adapt to living in Australia.
Malaela Su’a: Malaela is a talented football player and will be representing Queensland Red’s Super W side as their youngest team member.
Robyn Rae and Clare Fraser: Robyn Rae and Clare Fraser, both work in the Economic Development team at Logan City Council. They both helped out over the weekend cleaning up in flood affected areas. Robyn was at Chinderah and Murwillumbah; Clare was in Lismore.
Emily Styles: Emily is one of the administrators on the ‘Waterford Community Group’ Facebook page. Emily spends a great deal of her personal time dedicated to making sure the community group remains a friendly, positive and community minded page for the purpose of connecting locals and keep them informed of what’s going on in our beautiful area.
Qin Zhang: Qin has been a regular Waterford volunteer for many years. During the floods she came out and helped us run a community barbecue despite her house been flood impacted.
Ines Ilijasevic: Ines is a support worker at the Centre for Women and was nominated for her commitment and passion to supporting women who experience DFV in the Logan area. Her warmth helps clients to feel safe and supported during some of the hardest times in their lives.
Chyann Vete-Senefili: Chy is described as the Centre for Women’s front of house superstar who always provides a warm and safe entry point for women seeking DFV support. She is the backbone of the Logan Centre for Women team and a support to her peers and the community members who walk through our doors.
Wendy Child: Wendy is a caring, giving and loving member of the community who for years has donated her time and money to those less fortunate. Over the years she has done numerous charity events, her latest raising over $13,000 for the Charlie Teo Foundation. She has also recently become a community golf teacher to once again provide support to the community.
Jenny Cheng: Jenny volunteers in the Emergency Relief (ER) department at KENG, which provides about 80 food parcels to families in need every week. Jenny also assists with interviewing clients, assessing their needs and referring to other organisations if required.
Debbie Milne: Debbie has been the Registrar at Canterbury College, Waterford West, for the last 20 years. She has been responsible for enrolling hundreds of families from the Waterford and greater Logan area during that time.
Emma Smith: Emma Smith is the lead coach at Empire Bodyworks in Beenleigh. According to her friends she is a boss coach who is the perfect mix of caring, empowering and demanding (when needed).
Emma Pyers: Emma Pyers leads the YFS Housing First team, achieving amazing housing outcomes for some of Logan’s most vulnerable people. Last year, her team worked with 231 Logan people. Almost half of them were under 25, and many of them were families with children. Emma has supported people experiencing homelessness in Logan for the past 10 years, building up extensive local knowledge and skills.
Kristine Fry: When Kristine Fry moved to Logan in 2017 she brought experience and passion as a financial counsellor. In her work at YFS she helps people who are in financial trouble to get on top of their debts, create manageable budgets and build their knowledge about money matters. Together last year they helped nearly 500 people overcome financial crisis, and equipped them to manage better in future.
Shannon Post: Shannon Post regularly tackles financial topics on Logan Radio, online on the mums’n’bubs Logan group, or at events run by the Logan Financial Literacy Action Group. Shannon became a financial counsellor in 2012, after working as a social worker. In her role at YFS she helps people who are in debt or struggling financially.
Sarah Vuzem: Sarah Vuzem has worked with Logan’s most vulnerable people since 2007. From her early days at YFS as a housing worker, Sarah has stepped in where needed, including in YFS’ youth and domestic violence teams, gaining extensive experience in community services. These days Sarah is responsible for all of YFS’ domestic violence services.
Shannon O’Connell: Shotgun Shannon is a local Logan boxing superstar and created a home for Shotgun Boxing Gym. This local gym has been a haven for those looking to change their lives, not just for fitness but for better mental health and a positive future focus.
Pepe Leau: Pepe Leau was a Mabel Park State High School student leader in 2021. Pepe has gone above and beyond in her work as Student Leader at Mabel Park, from starting a school-based environmental council to advocating for all of her fellow students and being a role model for future students.
Courtney Gillott: Courtney Gillott is president of the Logan Hockey club based in Slacks Creek. Courtney has put in the hard yards to get the club and the sport thriving in the local area.
Kiri Griffiths: Kiri Griffiths has worked at Loganlea SHS since 2013. She has been a teacher, Head of Department and now Deputy Principal. Kiri has been instrumental in leading the school’s Academic Signature Program which has a proven record of helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their true potential. Kiri has also led a project called “Uplift Logan”.
Emily Ellis: Emily is the Intake and Triaging Manager within our Emergency Relief Team at Access Community Services. She has been integral in assisting both the Logan and Ipswich community navigate the emergency relief process, assisting locals with vouchers for food and fuel as well as vital furniture and appliances that they may have lost during the floods.
Kenny Duke: Kenny worked tirelessly with community leaders to provide help during the floods and to source information in language for Logan’s many multicultural community members. While Kenny’s office was impacted and several of her colleagues were cut off she kept working out of pretty much anywhere including a bakery at one point to keep supporting Logan’s diverse community members.
Geeta Chandar: Geeta volunteers at KENG three days per week in the Emergency Relief department. Geeta is from Fiji Islands and moved to Australia in 2017 with her young children. Her volunteering duties include unpacking the weekly Foodbank shop, making food parcels, organising the 2nd hand items, and reception duties.
Jenna Liddelow: Jenna is dedicated to improving the lives of women in Logan and has spent her entire career at The Centre for Women & Co. working with women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence.
Petronilla Lau: Pet has been a part of the KENG family for a few years, helping out in Emergency Relief on a weekly basis. Pet keeps herself busy at KENG by packing food parcels, interviewing clients and ensuring the food pantry is clean and tidy.
Jenny Holcroft, Jodie Silao and Margaret Sherrington: According to Mabel High principal Mick Hornby these three women are the heart and soul of Mabel Park. Jodie, Jenny and Marg are not only ultimate professionals in the classroom, they go above and beyond in the community.
