THE fourth annual Women of the Macleay awards were presented on Friday to mark International Women’s Day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The winners were Kate Pacey, Lyn Knight, Megan Nicholls, Missy Wright, Lyn Welch and young achiever Kimbaley Kershaw.
They represent a diverse group whose achievements touch all aspects of community life in the Macleay Shire:
Kimbaley Kershaw (Young Achiever Award).
Kimbaley is a Dunghutti woman who works with families in difficult situations to prevent a crisis requiring statutory intervention from government agencies.
She is a former foster child who is now a foster carer and lives by the belief that it takes a village to raise a child.
Kimbaley is also involved in sport coaching and playing in the Nations of Origin.
Megan Nicholls is a teacher at the Macleay Vocational College where she mentors often challenging students and assists their families.
Megan takes a holistic approach to students and spends many after-school hours offering classes to assist them through their HSC.
She also organises the school’s debutante ball, teaches the students how to dance and often helps sort out their outfits.
Missy Wright has a passion for working with disadvantaged youth since attending a training program in 2005.
Her volunteering and motivational speaking work attracted a sponsor who put her through university. Missy has established Kempsey’s strong Youth Advisory Council and now manages the Police and Citizens Youth Club, working with young people to develop their leadership and self-esteem.
As a Community Liaison Officer within the Police Service Kate Pacey acts with community workers to identify local issues and to develop and implement programs aimed at reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.
She also hosts workshops and forums and engages residents in culturally appropriate conversations about issues such as child truancy, domestic violence and community safety.
Lyn Welch has worked at Kempsey Hospital for 43 years.
Lyn knows everyone and is the person people turn to when lives are threatened or a private space is needed after a trauma.
As a multi-skilled After-Hours Nurse Manager Lyn is the backbone of the hospital and is fiercely protective of its role and those in its community.
School teacher Lyn Knight has dedicated herself to providing a rich and caring learning environment in her classes for the past 25 years.
Under her care Kempsey South Public School has earned a strong and positive reputation for performing arts and for defending the rights of vulnerable children.
She is known to give up weekends for her students and be asked to leave the school at night so the cleaners could go home.
