Published on Monday, 14 December 2020 at 1:08:30 PM
At Christmas time, we celebrate our community volunteers!
We recognize the people that give Vincent our people power, personality and passion.
Across our diverse community groups, these wonderful people all share a desire to making things happen and all play their part in building community connection.
This is so important to our community’s sense of wellbeing, identity and our love of life in Vincent.
All of these Vincent Volunteers have helped drive positive change in our community and we say ‘thank you!'
As the year draws to a close we are celebrating a few wonderful volunteers who have contributed to our Vincent community in 2020.
Do you know a local hero? #localheroes2020
Paula Hart
Local North Perth artist, Paula Hart, occupies a unique position in the Western Australian Arts community with her works that explore stories of people, community, place and identity and inspire and delight her audience.
With a 30-year professional career in the Arts, Paula is recognised as an international award winning public artist. She recently won the Commercial Category Award and achieved 5th place in the People Choice Award in the CODAawards 2020 for her Jacaranda Lacefence piece, located at the Mount Pleasant Woolworths.
“I graduated from WAIT in the mid-80s with a degree in Visual Arts – Textiles. From there, I unexpectedly found myself a key player in the 80’s revival of union banners and was creating large, textile-based banners for a number of unions at the time. My contemporary textiles banner for the Miscellaneous Workers Union ended up representing Australia in Scotland in a Banners of the World exhibition.”
Over the past 30 years, Paula has also worked with over 60,000 WA school kids to create community projects that examine culture and identity and promote creativity.
“I love the way the ideas, connections and designs that the kids come up with include things that I might never have thought of.”
“I have a driving commitment to community engagement and participatory processes to tell our stories and have been fortunate enough to work with remote communities, local government, migrant groups, arts organisations and a variety of clients all across Western Australia throughout my career.”
“What I love, and what I have found that I am really good at, is the process of collaboration; working with large groups of often non-artistic people and examining their identity, beliefs and the message they wish to portray, and then creating artworks that represent them.”
Paula is currently working with the City of Vincent, through our Arts Relief Grant program, to create a public artwork that speaks to what it is like to live through a life-altering global pandemic.
“Paula received international recognition when she took out the 2020 CODAaward Commercial Division for her art installation ‘Jacaranda’ in Mount Pleasant,” said Mayor Emma Cole.
“We can’t wait to see what Paula creates as a COVID-19 Arts Relief recipient and we are grateful to have her as a new volunteer on our Arts Advisory Group.”
Olan Healy
Originating from Cork in Ireland, Olan Healy is now a Perth local of 9 years who lives with his wife Jessica and their new puppy, Lucille.
A client manager by day, Olan spends his spare time playing in a band called Prohibition. It was through his band that Olan first became involved in Vincent’s St Patrick’s Day Parade.
“I first got involved in the Parade by volunteering to play and manage the music for the committee. I’m lucky enough to work for a great company - McDonald Surveys – whose Directors, Sally Ann and Andy, are great supporters of the local community and foster a culture where giving back to the community is a huge part of the way we operate.”
Olan credits his involvement with the Parade as helping him develop as a person and live a more balanced life.
“Before I got involved in the Parade, a lot of my focus was on work and a lot of what I did was financially driven. However, being part of something that’s bigger than me and that benefits others has been mentally energising and definitely helps me stay balanced.”
Olan has met a lot of interesting people and has plenty of stories to tell from his involvement with the St Patrick’s Day Parade, but you’ll have to buy him a pint to hear them all!
“What I have found, though, is that the more you take chances in life and embrace opportunities, the more interesting people you meet along the way. I’m inspired by the many people who are much less fortunate than me who selflessly dedicate their lives and time to others. To me, that’s really cool.”
“Olan was on the frontline of the first round of COVID-19 health restrictions,” said Mayor Cole.
“He made the tough call to call off the parade and fun day on the eve of the event. Bump in had started, marquees were up and kegs had been delivered after months and months of planning and hard work.
“He made the call with us, showing exemplary leadership. Decisions like this were key to our good fortunate in WA’s COVID-19 experience.”
Liz Millward
Liz Millward arrived in Australia with her partner and two sons via England and South Africa in 1986. She spent 15 years in Kalgoorlie before moving to Leederville in 2005, a change she credits as the best move she has ever made.
After a diverse career that included positions in libraries, museums, women’s health and finance, Liz is now happily retired and spends her days volunteering at the Local History Centre and North Perth’s Repair Café. As if that wasn’t enough, she is also involved with ABC Friends WA and the Friends of King’s Park.
“I’ve always been involved with my local community in some way, from school canteens to soccer committees to exploring my own interests of history and genealogy.”
“I just love the interesting and diverse range of people that I meet in the various groups I’m involved in and the stories that are created and shared through these experiences.”
“At the moment, I particularly love hearing all the stories related to the varied and eclectic objects that come into the Repair Café. We have an amazing group of volunteers there who can repair anything from shoes to bicycles through to Woody from Toy Story who’s lost his voice!”
“I truly love where I live and am constantly inspired by this community. I am grateful that I am able to keep on learning about where I live, while researching local history, and to be a small part of what makes this community special. Being treasurer for a couple of organisations also helps to keep my brain in tune!”
“It’s been a big year for local history and a bumper year for local history in Vincent with the Local History Awards, Kyilla Primary School’s 75th anniversary and a number of other big events,” said Mayor Cole.
“Liz always gives her time to help out, but it doesn’t stop there. She is also treasurer of our beloved Repair Café and involved with ABC Friends and Friends of Kings Park.”
Trevor and Sherryl Stiles
When the sub-branch of the Mt Hawthorn RSL looked like it might fold after 93 years, Vincent locals Trevor and Sherryl Stiles stepped in to help ensure its continued existence for the benefit of ex-service men and women in the Vincent community.
Trevor had served in the Royal Australian Navy for 9 years and saw action in Vietnam, Malaya and Borneo before embarking on a long career as a Credit Manager, while Sherryl previously worked as an Electorate Officer to State and Federal MPs for 32 years.
“We became members of the Mt Hawthorn RSL a few years ago but when it became obvious the sub-branch might fold, we became more involved and took on the roles of President and Secretary.”
The pair are largely driven by their Christian faith, with its many examples of service to others. Through their roles with the RSL, they have enjoyed making new friends, helping older veterans and meeting other community leaders.
“One thing which touches us both, during the annual Poppy Day Appeal, is the large number of people who tell us about their particular family member or members who served this country in wartime. They remember those who never came home or those who did return, but with physical and/or mental scars. It really shows the deep regard for our nation’s service men and women.”
“We hope the Mt Hawthorn RSL Sub-Branch continues on for many years to come and we’d love to see more people get involved, so that we can continue to care for our older veterans and actively contribute to the wider Vincent community.”
“Trevor and Sheryl and the new dynamic duo of the RSL Mount Hawthorn Sub-Branch, who stepped in when the future of the sub-branch was looking shaky after 93 years,” said Mayor Cole.
“They’ve been great supporters of ours this year as we commemorated ANZAC Day differently and marked Remembrance Day at Axford Park with a small community gathering.
“Both are passionate, committed and welcoming, with a focus on bringing new members into the RSL and remaining a strong support for veterans and their families.”
Jenny Lam
You may recognise Jenny Lam from her appearance on Masterchef Australia in 2018, but these days she’s best known as the face of local Leedy favourite, Bunn Mee.
Prior to opening Bunn Mee, Jenny spent 11 years running her own marketing company and started out as a door to door salesperson selling cleaning products.
“I got to meet a lot of interesting people during that time, which I really enjoyed. I suppose that, coupled with my love for food, made the move to opening up in hospitality a perfect match.”
“I’ve always believed that every day you have a choice to influence people for better or worse, so why not do it for the better and add value to people’s lives?”
“What I love about Bunn Mee is the amount of people we bring joy to every day through our food. It’s now become so much more than just a place to eat - it’s a hangout spot; somewhere familiar that makes you feel good from the moment you enter.”
While Jenny ranks meeting Gordon Ramsey and cooking under his influence as one of her highlights, it’s her mum, Kim Tieu, that is her main inspiration in life.
“She’s forever hardworking, caring, selfless and ambitious. She’s taught me so many skills throughout life but the most valuable thing she’s taught me is how to be a good person.”
Jenny’s advice for being a good person is simple. “Be kind to everyone. Be yourself. Dare to dream. And happy holidays!”
“Jenny’s business was forced to adapt and innovate during COVID-19, but despite the challenges she faced this year she is still so positive about the future of Leederville and the future of her business,” said Mayor Cole.
“She is a strong supporter of Leederville and the local business community, having participated in the Resilience workshop.”
Maxine Brahim
Maxine Brahim is a proud Aboriginal woman, originally from Port Hedland.
Her career has spanned a number of industries, including State and Local Government, the construction industry, and the private sector.
Today, Maxine is the Aboriginal Student Coordinator at Aranmore Catholic College in Leederville, a position she has held for the past 6 years. As one of 11 children, Maxine has a special insight into indigenous kids and their needs in school and beyond.
“I have a strong belief in my culture and work with the wider community to build relationships based on harmony, respect for each other, and a safe community.”
Having previously worked in Local Government, and having a strong understanding of how it works, Maxine was keen to form a relationship with the City of Vincent through her role at Aranmore.
“I knew that we needed to build a strong connection with the City of Vincent when I started in my role with Aranmore Catholic College. We’ve since built a very healthy relationship and now have a number of our young Aboriginal students involved as trainees at the City, gaining valuable on the ground work experience.”
“Having these Aboriginal students in the workplace really encourages them to be confident to engage with the City’s employees and to be proud to be a part of a team.”
“For me, the best part is being able to work with and include the community in our vision and to better understand and support each other’s journey.”
“Maxine has worked in the social justice area for most of her career and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the City of Vincent’s RAP Working Group,” said Mayor Cole.
“She lent a hand in our recent NAIDOC Week celebrations, helping to make it our best NAIDOC Week yet.”
Caitlin MacIntyre
Leederville local, Caitlin MacIntyre, is part of the City of Vincent’s Vincent Youth Network Group. At just 19 years of age, she has already proven herself to be an active and valued member of the Vincent community.
“I have always loved helping others, meeting new people and enjoying new experiences and this has prompted me to get involved in my community.
“While I was a student at Aranmore Catholic College, I was involved in helping to organise a number of events, including their Open Day, ANZAC Day ceremonies, St Vincent de Paul’s Winter Appeal Sleep out, and several drama and music productions.
“Through the Vincent Youth Network, I’m able to continue with my love of events and, over the past year, have had the pleasure of being involved in the Amazing Race: Goldrush, Barista courses, Halloween Haunted House, and the Children’s Christmas Markets.”
In addition to her work with the Vincent Youth Network, Caitlin is also an instructor and member of the PCYC Police Rangers.
“This is one of my biggest passions. I’ve been with the Police Rangers for three years and it has greatly helped me in my role with the Vincent Youth Network, in terms of leadership, being organised and being able to engage with people from all ages and backgrounds.”
Caitlin is thankful to those who have given her the opportunities she’s had to date, to gain her knowledge and experience. The person who most inspires Caitlin, however, is her mum, Wendy Webster; a nurse of 30 years and mother, not only Caitlin, but also her 4 older brothers.
“She is strong, independent, loving and willing to stand up for what’s wrong. As someone who is not afraid to voice her opinion, it’s no surprise that mum has inspired me to speak out, create change and make a difference in society.
“The most important lesson she has taught me though, is to be courageous, passionate and to have compassion for others and their journey in life; to be thankful and to always help others.”
“This year we released our first ever Youth Action Plan, and it’s great to have people like Caitlin involved,” said Mayor Cole.
“She is an inspiring and driven young woman, who has helped us understand what young people think, feel and need. This is vital to what we do.”
Curtis Ward
As well as being a lawyer in the field of family law, an avid musical theatre fan, and a proud Hufflepuff, Vincent local Curtis Ward is also the President of the Board of Pride WA – a not for profit organisation that aims to encourage and promote a sense of community and the culture of people of diverse gender and sexuality.
Curtis has been involved in community volunteering throughout his life, from sitting on student societies throughout his schooling years to his role as the Social Justice Chair with the Law Society of Western Australia’s Young Lawyers Committee.
“I have always tried to help wherever I can and to use my privileges to help improve the situation for others. I also enjoy the personal benefits that come from volunteering, such as being able to make new friends and improve my own skills and knowledge.”
One of Curtis’ greatest achievements to date is his work on the Law Society’s Expungement of Historical Homosexual Convictions law reform submission, which saw the law change in 2018 to wipe from history any record of ‘crimes’ committed in Western Australia solely because an individual was same-sex attracted.
“These reforms also prompted the Government to make a formal apology to the LGBTQI+ community for the hurt, prejudice and active discrimination that ruined lives.”
Curtis draws inspiration from seeing others defying adversity. In his work with the LGBTQI+ community, he is particularly inspired by the elders of the community.
“These are the individuals who stood up to the masses, at a time when it was illegal to engage in homosexuality and cross dressing, and wore their true identity on their sleeve to fight for a better future.”
“During a tough year, and with the Parade and Fair Day on hold, Pride WA pulled together a fantastic PrideFEST with 45 events over two weeks,” said Mayor Cole.
“Curtis showed us that life goes on and reminded us that it is important to celebrate who we are no matter the challenges we face.”
David Williss
David Williss is a Project Management Consultant who runs his business from his home in North Perth, which he shares with his fiancé Matthew and their three children. However, it is David’s involvement with the North Perth Dynamite Netball Club and his passion for giving kids of all ages the opportunity to get involved in the sport that makes him a hero of the Vincent community.
As his daughters neared the end of their primary school years, David realised that it was possibly the end of their netball journey, unless they were selected to play for a larger club in Year 7.
“I grew up playing team sports and have always strongly believed that it is an important part of a child’s development, both mentally and socially. That was the motivation for me to contact the Perth Netball Association in 2018 and gain their support to grow the North Perth Dynamites Netball Club into a club that incorporates all school aged players and teams.”
Since that pivotal phone call, David has become the President of the North Perth Dynamites Netball Club and has seen the Club grow from 80 players to over 150 players.
“It has been inspiring to be able to help others and grow a connected community through the North Perth Dynamites and I am so proud that we are now able to provide a platform for all children to be able to continue playing the great sport of netball at our club for as long as they choose to.”
“David started up and has grown a highly successful and inclusive new netball club in the heart of Vincent, with a philosophy of fun, social connection and being open to all,” said Mayor Cole.
“Sports have been so important to our sense of wellbeing and connection in 2020.”
Danielle Power
Mount Hawthorn’s Danielle Power is a busy mum of three who loves a chat at every opportunity. She is also the President of the Mount Hawthorn Playgroup and was pivotal in leading the Playgroup’s renovations throughout 2020.
“My children have always attended local playgroups. I have been so fortunate to attend back with my original mothers group for my firstborn and then later to find an amazing group after my youngest children arrived. I originally became involved with the Mount Hawthorn Playgroup committee as I could see that volunteering would not only help my own children, but also other children in the wider community.”
Danielle loves that the Playgroup allows her to connect with so many lovely families and their children each week.
“Watching the connections grow between group members, and the strong support networks that continue long after the playgroup years, makes me realise just how important a successfully run playgroup is to the community.”
While COVID-19 presented a number of challenges for the Playgroup this year, it didn’t stop Danielle and the team from forging ahead with their renovation plans, with many playgroup committee and their partners pulling up their sleeves to contribute to the project.
“The renovation brought out several hidden talents of our committee members. Combined with the help of some phenomenal local tradespeople and businesses, we were able to make our small renovation project far larger and more polished than we ever dreamt and something that is going to benefit local children and families for many, many years to come.”
Danielle feels lucky to be surrounded and supported by the determined, kind, energetic, bright and incredible women who form the Mount Hawthorn Playgroup committee.
“It is hard not to be continually inspired by them. Each of them teaches me new ways to approach issues and offers a different view, strengths, energy, warmth, advice, and great friendship too.”
“Danielle is the power house of playgroup who, together with her amazing committee, volunteers and local tradespeople, transformed the playgroup centre,” said Mayor Cole.
“She is very hardworking, determined, organised and community focused – an absolute gem.
“COVID babies and their families experienced a lot of isolation, but now they have the chance to form bonds and connect with other people who found themselves in the same situation.”
John Casson
The City of Vincent sadly lost a wonderful hero of Christmas in John Casson, who passed away on 24 August 2020.
John – born Frederick John Casson in Mount Lawley in 1939 – was the grandson of Susan Casson, who established Casson Homes in the heart of North Perth in 1922.
Casson Homes was one of the first charitable organisations formed for the benefit of psychiatric patients in Australia. Almost 100 years later, the Casson family remains involved in the provision of residential mental health care in Perth.
John was active in the management of Casson Homes throughout his life and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia Medal (AM) in 2003 for his service to the community, in recognition of his work with people living with mental illness.
We were fortunate to have interviewed John Casson in 2009 - a transcript of which is available in the Local History Collection, along with “The History of the Casson Family and Casson Homes in Western Australia 1897− 2017”, commissioned by John himself and written by Cate Pattison in 2018.
You can find out more about John’ story through our Local History Centre or by visiting the Casson Homes website at www.cassonhomes.com.au
“Mental health has been a critical issue this year and John was a person who gave his life to supporting people experiencing mental health issues,” said Mayor Cole.
“He continued his family legacy with his commitment to Casson Homes and this vital service has continued due to his passion and commitment.”
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