Presenting your 2021 Westfield Local Heroes
We are excited to announce your three 2021 successful Westfield Local Heroes for Riccarton.
Each of the affiliated organisations of the successful heroes will be awarded a $10,000 grant to support their work to thrive. Westfield will award 126 grants across Australia and New Zealand – totalling $1.26 million.
For further information or to discover the Westifield Local Heroes at other Westfield centres, visit the Westfield Local Heroes website.
Your three Westfield Riccarton Local Heroes are:
Karlena Kelliher
Sands Canterbury
Compassionate. Vivacious. Dedicated
Karlena Kelliher has spent two decades helping grieving parents rebuild their lives after losing a baby to miscarriage, during birth or as a newborn. As a volunteer with Sands Canterbury, Karlena provides ongoing support to help about 60 people a year recover from their loss. She also puts together memory boxes and support packages.
Margaret Malzard
Christchurch Early Intervention Trust
Intuitive. Understated. Awe-Inspiring
Margaret Malzard has dedicated her working life to children with complex needs through the Christchurch Early Intervention Trust. As a Senior Early Intervention Educator, at the The Champion Centre, she inspires a team of early intervention specialists who prepare infants and young children with significant disabilities and developmental challenges to transition to their chosen school successfully.
Mitch Shaw
UpstreamNZ & CDN Trust
Entrepreneurial. Driven. Generous
Former youth worker Mitch Shaw launched UpstreamNZ to provide an alternate sustainable way to generate funds for youth charities. UpstreamNZ is an online business directory, of socially-minded businesses, that generate commissions from sales which benefit youth charities. So far, an extra 5100 hours of youth services have been funded.
We congratulate our finalists and recognise the important contribution they make to the local community.
Danielle Petterd from It Takes a Village Hub, NZ
Danielle Petterd lovingly prepares care packs filled with goodies to support families in financial distress who are expecting a baby. Danielle prepares up to 50 baby and toddler relief packs a week through her role as a volunteer at It Takes a Village Hub.
Debra Jamieson from Deaf Aotearoa
Debra Jamieson has dedicated the past six years to helping more than 50 families learn to communicate with their deaf child through her work with Deaf Aotearoa. She often gives up her weekends and evenings to fit in with grandparents and siblings, so they can also learn New Zealand sign language.
Jean Barr from Victim Support Christchurch
Victim Support Christchurch volunteer Jean Barr knows when to talk and when to listen. Jean has been a support worker for seven years and was one of the people on the ground after the 2019 mosque shootings.
If you need support, please phone Lifeline: 0800 543 354.
Recognising all our 2021 nominees
View all of the Westfield Riccarton nominees and their organisations