Times are tough at the moment, but the community is being encouraged to rally and vote for five local heroes who have been nominated for their selfless acts which make a positive contribution to the Central Coast community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voting for the Westfield Local Heroes are now open, with more than $1.2 million in grants set to be awarded to community heroes across Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s, Westfield Local Heroes have been nominated by their communities, and the outcome of the public vote set determine the three successful 2021 Local Heroes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each of the three winners and their affiliated organisations will be awarded a $10,000 grant by Westfield Tuggerah to support their work to thrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, without further ado, let\u2019s meet this year\u2019s local nominees: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christine, or Chris as she known as, wants everyone in the community to feel cared and valued for which is why she runs several programs to help hundreds of disadvantaged people through her Southlakes Incorporated<\/a> charity, which she started in 2013. Chris provides hundreds of meals a week and free haircuts to homeless people, with Chris now launching a scheme for locals to give their spare room to a homeless person for three months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joshua has always put the community ahead of his own needs as a volunteer captain of the Rural Fire Service Central Coast Comms Brigade. Joshua put his career on hold at the height of the 2019-20 bushfires crisis, working 12-hour shifts to make sure the community was protected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Heroic. Selfless. Inspiring. Those are the three words used to describe retired nurse Lorraine Churchill, who has dedicated the past 16 years to providing financial help to families with premature newborns or children who need hospital care in Sydney or Newcastle. Lorriane does this as the compassionate and dedicated secretary of the volunteer-run Central Coast Kids in Need, which has covered nearly $4 million in accommodation and medicine costs for more than 3,000 families since 2005.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firefighting veteran Ross Beckley has one mission in life \u2013 making sure Central Coast emergency service workers to put their hand up if they need help. Ross is a co-founder of the Behind the Seen project and has visited every Central Coast rural fire brigade to offer peer support and to reduce the stigma of depression, anxiety and PTSD among first responders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final nominee for Westfield Local Heroes is Sally Hudson, who offers free mentoring, empowerment training and social connection to help vulnerable women on the Central Coast turn their lives around. Sally co-founded her non-profit organisation Happiness Habits to provide practical and emotional support to women who have survived domestic and family violence or have dependency issues, mental illness or other challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Voting for the Westfield Local Heroes closes on August 30. You can cast your vote for any of these amazing Local Heroes online via the Westfield Tuggerah website here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen via the Star 104.5 Player, download it now via the <\/em>App Store<\/em><\/a> or <\/em>Google Play<\/em><\/a> and take Star 104.5 wherever you go. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n WATCH: Wake up with a laugh and join <\/em><\/strong>Rabbit & Sarah for Breakfast<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, weekdays, 6am-9am. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
Joshua Sullivan \u2013 Rural Fire Service Central Coast Comms Brigade:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lorraine Churchill \u2013 Central Coast Kids In Need:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ross Beckley \u2013 Behind The Seen:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sally Hudson \u2013 Happiness Habits Inc.:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n