Your 2025 Westfield Riccarton Local Hero is:

René Heyde

Cholmondeley Children’s Centre

Inspiring. Resilient. Generous.

Last year, at the age of 70, former Commonwealth bronze medallist René Heyde cycled 3,800 kilometres from Perth to Melbourne to raise money for Cholmondeley Children’s Centre in Governors Bay. 

The centre offers around-the-clock respite care for tamariki aged 5 to 12, giving them time in a safe learning and play environment. It also provides home support for whānau, through its community outreach team and its Whānau Ora Navigators, who provide a whānau-centred approach to wellbeing and development. 

Cholmondeley is very close to René’s heart, following childhood exposure to domestic violence. 

“As a young child myself, with two younger brothers, we spent six and nine months there,” explains René. 

“I have first-hand experience of how these vulnerable children feel and everything they experience when they are placed in the care of Cholmondeley.” 

René is committed to nurturing children’s futures and helping them to become strong and resilient. Again, this desire comes from his own challenging experiences. 

“One of my teachers at high school told me I was useless,” says René.  

“That was my motivation to realise a childhood dream of representing my country in a sport and wearing the Silver Fern.” 

Rene believes that through his story and support, he can show other children what they can achieve, no matter where they started in life.

The $20,000 grant will be used to pay for 27 one-night stays for tamariki in need, including staff wages, electricity, meals and other expenses.

We’d like to thank and acknowledge our finalists who will receive a $5K grant for the organisation they represent.

Donald Benn from Neighbourhood Trust

Don uplifts his Mairehau community through mentoring dads, distributing food, running gardening workshops, and supporting seniors. His hands-on initiatives with the Neighbourhood Trust, from kai support for those in hardship to social support for the over-60s, help creating lasting, positive transformation for individu

Ngarie Worsley from Foster Hope Charitable Trust

Volunteering with Foster Hope, Ngarie assembles free backpacks of essentials for children entering care, restoring dignity and self-esteem to young lives. Every Christmas, she transforms her home into a festive grotto filled with gifts for children in need. A community connector and tireless advocate, she also partners with organisations to ensure every child feels valued and supported.

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Recognising all our 2025 nominees

View all of the Westfield Riccarton nominees and their organisations.