Anna Wylie’s grandad had a saying that has stuck with her through the years.
“There are three types of people in the world,” he would say. “Those who will make things happen, those who will watch things happen and those who will wonder what happened.”
Living her life as someone who makes things happen has always brought Anna great satisfaction.
A familiar face around North Perth Primary School, Anna is the school board chair and an active P&C member.
Her involvement with the board and P&C started when she enrolled her daughter in kindy, and years later she is still heavily involved in the school community.
Anna is also the coach and equipment co-ordinator for the growing North Perth Dynamites Netball Club and the chairperson of environmental youth organisation Millennium Kids.
Her volunteer work has connected her to many inspiring and passionate locals who support her when things are tough and remind her how wonderful community is.
“Nobody does all of this alone,” she said.
“The huge, and repeat, effort required by teams of people to make things happen for the good of our community is often underrated.
“To every person who leaned in and helped their community, I thank you.
“I really love seeing results – the joy on a child’s face when they master shooting a goal at netball, the delighted squeals of kids playing on a revived nature playground, the breakthrough moment when a politician really listens to youth voice on environmental issues – all of these things fuel me to keep giving back.”
Anna’s parents were always heavily involved with their community and she believes volunteering is in her DNA.
Her mum is a country girl who taught her the value of supporting your neighbours in whatever way you can.
Her dad is a war-time immigrant who always gently guided her and her brother to think about what they had to share and to work hard to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them.
“There are volunteering opportunities for everyone,” she said. “No matter what your interest are or what skills you bring to the table.”
For Cheyeanne Henderson-Watkins, the best thing about her LGBTQIA+ youth advocacy work is seeing the impact it has on the lives of other people.
Cheyeanne was studying political science and international relations at university when she felt an urge to do something more personal to her that would have a local impact.
Once she became involved with Youth Pride Network, she never looked back.
“Youth Pride Network are a youth peer-led systemic advocacy group and the only one of its kind in WA so it's safe to say they're pretty amazing,” she said.
“I don't think a lot people in the general community realise just how much work there still is to do for queer rights in WA - we've made a lot of progress in recent years but there's still so much work to be done.
“Being a queer young person, I also think it's really important to make sure that we're able to make decisions for ourselves and have agency over that - so the idea of working with a group made up entirely of other young people all wanting to make change is really what prompted me to get involved.”
Cheyeanne uses her platform to advocate for other queer people of colour who have typically been marginalised within LGBTQIA+ advocacy.
The 24-year-old said systemic advocacy could be a hard and a slow way to enact change, but the little wins were worth millions.
Cheyeanne said she was inspired by the people she works with, particularly the “incredibly smart, passionate and dedicated” young people who always put a smile on her face.
JASON MAROCCHI
The Marocchi family have long had a connection to football, and such is their passion that family gatherings often become a forum for discussion about the round ball sport.
Jason Marocchi grew up at Dorrien Gardens watching his dad and uncles play football, so its little wonder he is now the president of Perth Soccer Club.
His nonno (grandfather) Saverio played for the very first Perth SC team in 1948 and four generations of Marocchis have played for the club over its 74-year history – a total of 13 players.
Jason initially joined the board of the club in 2014 and focused on helping to secure some of the key funding for the Perth Community Playing Fields Project.
He re-joined the board in 2020 before taking over from his uncle Gary – a former Socceroo and the inaugural coach of the Perth Glory - as president of Perth SC last year.
Jason is inspired by his nonno and his nonna (grandmother) Doris and is driven by the people at the club and the “magical” history that surrounds it.
“We have so many families that have two, three, four generations that have played, coached, served on committees or played other voluntary roles,” he said.
“Many friendships, relationships, marriages and business partnerships have formed and blossomed at our club over the past seven decades.
“The other thing I love most about our club is our values. The success of our club has been built on our values of integrity, respect, ambition, effort, teamwork and community.
“These are the values that were instilled in us by our founders – a group of Italian migrants from the WA Italian Club – and still hold true today.”
For Jason, the purpose of Perth SC is not only to train up better players. It’s also about making the members better people and ensuring they become significant contributors to the community.
He is looking forward to celebrating the 75th anniversary of his beloved club next year.
Carmel agnello
Carmel Agnello knows better than most the power of food and building community.
Part of the Vincent Community Kitchen crew, Carmel helps organise volunteers and dinners guests who meet monthly to connect while cooking and eating.
Not only does the group foster connection through food, it also inspires sustainability through practices such as stopping food from going to landfill.
“It's been great to learn alongside others, in a pretty spontaneous way, how to use different ingredients and different cooking skills to cook up such a variety of dishes that we wouldn't normally cook,” Carmel said.
“It's always a surprise as to what produce we have donated each month, and equally surprising what dishes we make from them.
“I'm also proud of how our team has built connections with local producers, store owners and organisations and have enjoyed seeing first hand, their generosity and commitment.”
Carmel has been a teacher for 40 years and has lived in Mt Hawthorn since 1992.
She got involved with Vincent Community Kitchen just over four years ago after hearing the pitch that landed the group its initial funding.
The group has recently been helping Ukrainian refugee families who have been adjusting to their new lives in Perth – an experience that has been moving for Carmel and all involved.
“Although we are fundamentally about community building in general, we would love to do even more to help other individuals or groups who may need an extra helping hand,” she said.
The Vincent Community Kitchen is looking for more crew members to help with the behind-the-scenes work and take part in monthly events.
Anna kelderman
Anna Kelderman wears a lot of hats, among them optimist, mum, town planner, facilitator, partner, activist, cynicist, environmentalist, collectivist and anti-individualist.
She is also the vice chair of Leederville Connect – a town team that aims to make Leederville a better place for community members, businesses and visitors.
“I strongly believe that collaboration between people of different backgrounds and skills is better than experts hidden in a room making decisions, so getting into community work is obvious,” she said.
“I spend most of my time being a consultant for communities all over the State, working with people to get better places and towns, and I guess I've avoided focus on my own neighbourhood in the past.
“I got involved in Leederville Connect because I could, because good people came before me and made it work and created a platform that could enable a better place that was not 'run' by an agenda or a project management deadline.”
Anna’s work with Leederville Connect allows her to explore different ways of doing things with the community, trial new ideas and work on community building from the ground up.
She enjoys that the organisation has been able to build a story of place and believes the people of Leederville really care for those who are most vulnerable.
“Across the community people have said they want Leederville to be a welcoming place, a place for all ages and abilities and backgrounds,” Anna said.
“It's not perfect, and we have a long way to go, but there is a real sense here of caring for more than just stuff, caring for people and caring for Country.”
LYALL BEAR
Growing up in a small community in the Central Wheatbelt, Lyall Bear learnt the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community at a young age.
He went on to volunteer at his boarding school in Perth from age 12, embracing the college’s motto ‘By Daring and By Doing’, and continued to give back while at university.
Lyall is now the immediate previous past President of the North Perth Tennis Club and has taken on several officeholder roles during his nearly 40-year membership.
“I enjoy the volunteer roles I have done and still do, mostly because I know that I am assisting others in some way or another or by helping to leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy,” he said.
“It is also the opportunity to work alongside other like-minded people who also enjoy the volunteering activities.
“You can learn so much from each other whilst doing these roles or holding sporting club officeholder positions.”
Lyall has been a North Perth local for nearly 42 years and has loved watching the area develop and evolve into a wonderful place to live and bring up a family.
Tennis has been an important part of his life since he was a country kid growing up on a farm north of Dowerin.
He described North Perth Tennis Club as a “terrific small club” with a wonderful history and a warm and friendly social environment.
Throughout his life, Lyall has been guided by both his college motto and the phrase ‘choice not chance determines destiny’.
He said he did not think anyone could be too young or too old to give back their community or by helping those less fortunate in society.
KATHARINE NASH
Katharine Nash’s work as a chemical engineer took her all around the world – from the desert in North Africa to country towns in the US to the tundra north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska.
But seven years ago, she and her young family felt the time was right to settle in one spot and build long and deep roots in a community.
It was the lush green spaces, the accessibility and the first-class primary school and education support centre in Mt Hawthorn that drew them to the area they now call home.
Katharine’s passion for education and a desire to add value to her local school saw her become the Mount Hawthorn Primary Schools board chair.
“I believe that in primary school you learn how to learn, and acquire the fundamentals and habits which propel you towards your dreams” she said.
“I believe that Mount Hawthorn Primary School preferentially equips students for modern life with a diverse student body, top notch teachers and the flexibility to innovate.
“A school of its size can also excite students with a preeminent music programme, competitive sporting opportunities, technology and community partnerships.”
Katharine has a child with severe autism, and his condition has gifted her family with a laser-like determination to be deliberate in what they do and how they show up.
They have simplified their lives to have the optimal impact in their professional, volunteer and parenting roles.
“We endeavour to be dependable colleagues, neighbours and friends, and encouraging parents,” she said.
Paula Sutherland
From a childcare group to schools and sporting clubs, Paula Sutherland has volunteered for many worthy community organisations over the years.
The North Perth local got involved with Loftus Community Centre when her three kids were little – first utilising the toy library, then coordinating the childcare group and eventually becoming president.
She enthusiastically started volunteering at Aranmore Catholic Primary School when her eldest child started pre-primary, before continuing her involvement to this day at Aranmore Catholic College when the kids entered high school.
And along the way, she’s also volunteered with Mercedes Netball Club, Phantoms Water Polo Club and Mt Hawthorn Cardinals JFC as a coach, manager and current committee member.
“I was influenced by my parents who have always given back and readily volunteered their time, energy and enthusiasm as community members,” Paula said.
“I love being involved, I love the social connections, and one day I hope my children will not only appreciate my role in their community lives but pick up the volunteer bug themselves.”
Originally from Victoria, Paula and her partner raised their children in Perth and now love the pace and lifestyle of the west.
She enjoys coming across the same faces in the community and being involved with the people who collectively contribute to the fabric of where and how they live.
Paula said she was inspired by her parents and the way they are eternally positive, engaged in life and grateful for their good fortune of health and happiness”.
“My dad has always said there is nothing more important than family which is a pretty basic but influential code to live by,” she said.
