- Latest News
TIRELESS WORKER: Raelene Williams has been a driving force for Pink Spirits.
Senior Citizen of the Year
Raelene Williams
More than 30 years of volunteer work and community contribution makes Raelene Williams a very worthy winner of the Whyalla Senior Citizen of the Year award for 2019.
As her nominator stated in her submission, Raelene is a "tireless and hard working" person who has been recognised over the years for her contributions to our community and many individuals.
Raelene has been a dedicated member of Whyalla Pink Spirits for eight years since the inception of the group. Pink Spirits is a group formed to support people with breast cancer and survivors of the disease.
She has held the position of president for that time and is the driving force behind fund raising activities and functions to raise cancer awareness in the community.
This includes the Lymphoedema Expo held over two days in Whyalla in August last year.
"Using her computer skills, Raelene designs, prints and laminates the 'Thank You' certificates and also designs posters and uses local and social media to promote these events," her nominator said.
Raelene is a volunteer for the "Hair to Help" wig library which is funded and operated by Whyalla Pink Spirits, housed at the Whyalla Hospital, to service Eyre Peninsula people who have lost their hair as a result of chemotherapy for any form of cancer.
As the Community Liaison for the Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA), Raelene welcomed BCNA representatives to Whyalla for their BCNA Forum in Whyalla in November 2018. This was a free information day for the community. Raelene was also an invited guest at the BCNA 20 year Celebration, held at Government House in Adelaide in October last year.
Continuing her tireless work for cancer research and awareness, Raelene is also a member of the Cancer Wellness Support Network, a group of volunteers who assist the general public with brochures and information from the Cancer Resource Centre at the Whyalla Hospital.
It's not just the cancer cause that Raelene dedicates her time to. She has also been involved in Neighbourhood Watch for 30 years and is currently secretary of Whyalla Stuart Area 277,
Raelene is also Secretary/Treasurer of the Whyalla Combined Areas NHW - Eyre & Western Local Service Area and she is a State Councillor For the Eyre & Western LSA, attending State meetings in Adelaide. Raelene was presented with a "State Award of Merit" badge in 2012 and more recently a "Volunteer Local Service Area Award" in 2017 in recognition of her contribution to the Neighbourhood Watch program.
"Raelene is a tireless and hard working person."
Not surprising, Raelene received her 5-year volunteer certificate at the Hospital Volunteer Christmas lunch last year and, as a Pink Spirits representative, she accepted the Premier's Certificate for outstanding volunteer service in 2016.
Raelene can now add another honour to her long list but, at the end of the day, it isn't the honours that matter to Raelene it is the people she helps along the way that mean the most.
Raelene 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