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WELL DESERVED: 2019 Whyalla Australia Day Citizen of the Year Lesley Maxwell at the Whyalla Baptist Church.
WHYALLA CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
LESLEY MAXWELL
Lesley Maxwell’s dedication to others has had an enormous impact on Whyalla and the many people she has helped in the community over the years.
Her passion to support those who have suffered injustice or have been marginalised is her strongest trait as she throws herself into many endeavours, groups and individual missions to help others.
Her nominator summed up this wonderful lady up when she said Lesley quietly fights for the betterment of her community.
“With compassion and love Lesley serves her community through work at local events, making time to listen and support those in need,” her nominator said.
“Lesley refers to herself as at 10-pound Pom with pride but she is more proud of the fact that she grew up and lives in Whyalla.
“Whyalla is often referred to as a community of resilience and determination and Lesley personifies these traits.”
Her passion for the Whyalla community is highlighted by her generosity through her work with the Baptist Church where she has served as a leader of the congregation including being the church’s Pastor. Lesley demonstrates her generosity regularly through her volunteer work with the HOPE Collective and her pastoral work with the Nipapanha Community.
Since 2001 Lesley has led teams of people from the Whyalla Baptist Church and other local churches to serve within the Nipapanha Community. This service has included running the Yakarti kid’s club with local Indigenous children, conducting church services and continuing to build ongoing relationships with the community.
“Whyalla is often referred to as a community of resilience and determination and Lesley personifies these traits.”
This ability to build strong relationships has been demonstrated through her work with the HOPE Collective. The HOPE Collective is a localised Collective Impact strategy that uses results-based accountability and change lab methodologies to create positive change on complex local issues.
“Lesley often uses her own time and money to attend personal development training and workshops located in Adelaide,” her nominator said.
“This training in the area of Collective Impact has allowed Lesley to make significant contributions to the leadership group.”
Lesley is a member of the HOPE Collective leadership group and through her ability to build strong relationships has established the Community Garden on Knight Street for the benefit of the local community.
She has also been a driving force behind reinvigorating the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Whyalla. The work Lesley has done in this space has been mostly in her own time with some time spent within her role as the Pastoral Care Worker at Stuart High School.
“Due to Lesley’s efforts, 22 young people in Whyalla have been given the opportunity to engage in life in a new and positive way,” her nominator said.
Lesley will receive her award tonight (Friday, January 25) before being honoured again at the Australia Day celebrations in Ada Ryan Gardens tomorrow (Saturday, January 26).
READ MORE ABOUT THE AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=182&c=72892
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72825
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72816