The Amy Large Volunteer Awards
A great congratulations to all of the nominees of the 2024 Amy Large Awards. We acknowledge and appreciate the work that you all do in the Inner West Community.
Discover more about all the nominees for the 2024 Awards via the 2024 Community Awards digital presentation.
Young Volunteer
Ebony Lagarez
Ebony has volunteered at Reception for the Asylum Seekers Centre for the past two years, and her compassion and determination to help refugees at the Centre is admirable and an inspiration to us all. She is now undertaking a Bachelor of Social Work so that she can continue to promote social change and enhance the wellbeing of others, volunteering still in a range of capacities where possible.
Audrey Storer
Audrey is a co-founder and leader of the Addiroad Youth Collective. She has used her position to mobilise and organise youth under the age of 18 to participate in giving back to the community. She has supported and worked tirelessly on hamper making and providing entertainment to the 300+ residents of the Inner West who gather at Addi Road to make special Christmas Hampers. Her vision for Addi Rock extends beyond music, aiming to create an inclusive space where attendees can interact, learn about Addi Road's community initiatives, and forge lasting friendships.
Brendan Couley-Mehigan
Brendan Couley-Mehigan is an outstanding young person with strong leadership qualities and a commitment to contribute to our local community through his exemplary volunteer work, dedication to the Air Force Cadets, and commitment to St John's First Aid duties. As a high school student, Brendan has consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership skills, commitment, and a genuine desire to serve others. Whether it's assisting at local events on First Aid duties, organising mental health awareness initiatives at school, or participating in Peer Support, Lead Flag Monitor and supports the schools Remembrance Day Assembly.
Matthew Vasic
Since 2020, Matthew has volunteered at the Exodus Foundation. The Exodus Foundation is a vital support service for homeless and disadvantaged people in the Inner West. Matthew continues to work in a frontline capacity serving customers food as well as assisting the catering staff with meal preparation. Due to his commitment for the foundation's charitable cause, Matthew ran the 2023 Sydney Marathon in order to raise money for Exodus, and then completed the 28km Cancer Council 7 Bridges Walk one-month later. Additionally, his efforts in organising Serbian community initiatives culminated this month when 70,000 people attended the annual Serbian Festival Sydney: the largest Serbian cultural festival outside of Europe.
Emma Peacocke
Emma has made outstanding contributions to the Good In The Hood charity in many ways. This is through delivering weekly meals to over 20 local recipients in our local community, taking on the role of social media coordinator for the charity and volunteering her time at many of the charity’s one-off events in the community to offer support to local residents in need. She is a beacon of positivity and enthusiasm, and she is always happy to take on a leadership role whilst always maintaining a respectful attitude.
Adult Volunteer
Ashley Wearne
Ash is an integral member of the volunteer team at Marrickville Community Nursery. He has been volunteering for one year, and within his year with us, has made such an outstanding positive impact through his restoration of natural areas and promoting positive ecological outcomes. On top of performing his nursery duties, Ash has drastically reduced the nursery's contribution to landfill by implementing a new composting system, creating a circular bioeconomy. He tends to his compost weekly, which highlights his hardworking and dedicated nature.
Morrigan Turner
Morrigan has been volunteering at Marrickville Community Nursery for almost two years and she is a credit to the nursery, generously contributing her time, labour and professional skillset. Morrigan has contributed to the nursery’s propagation of locally native seeds which strengthens wild plant populations, remnant bushlands and providing a habitat for insects, birds and small mammals. Morrigan has also been instrumental in establishing Pterostylis nutans stock at the nursery. Every year, she separates the bulbs into individual pots. With Morrigan's attentive love and care, the native orchid bulbs sprout into vigorous, robust plants. What started as a few bulbs, has developed into over 200 tubestock ready for planting within the Inner West.
Dean Graselli
Dean began visiting an aged care facility in Lilyfield almost three years ago and provided social support to Italian residents at the facility. Currently, Dean continues his volunteer visits to a senior woman, who lives alone in Marrickville and provides social connection and companionship with her. Dean's dedication and willingness to help others have positively impacted the wellbeing of the local senior community.
Holly Goodwin
Holly has made an enormous contribution to mothers of the Inner West in her volunteer work with the Australian Breastfeeding Association over the last 11 years. Holly has given her time leading and facilitating many local group meetings over the years, providing local mothers with a supportive and friendly space to receive breastfeeding information and support. Holly gives countless hours to her role of breastpump hire officer, enabling mothers to access breastpumps as well as ongoing counselling to support their use. Holly continues to be a mentor to other breastfeeding counsellors in our local group. She continues to support the Breastfeeding Helpline and has answered 1129 calls from parents in Australia. Holly's work enables mothers to find support and connection in the local community with volunteers as well as other mothers.
Jean Kropper
Jean has volunteered with Greenway Bushcare for 5 years, giving up her time every 2nd Sunday, regardless of the weather conditions to contribute to the revegetation along the Cooks River to Iron Cove Greenway. Jean has developed a comprehensive understanding of Bushcare and plant identification through her volunteer work at the Greenway. The success of this group relies heavily on volunteers like Jean who build social cohesion and make our working bees a joy to attend for all.
Natalie Hall
Natalie volunteers her time to coach clients on useful life skills such as preparing a resume and cover letter. She has managed to help numerous refugees build their confidence in writing, which has resulted in many finding a new job and a fresh start. She has attended workshops on How to be an Asylum Seeker Centre advocate and contributed feedback to the Asylum Seeker Centre’s strategic review process.