Every regional town or village has a handful of people who go above and beyond to make that community a better place to live.
Dubbo is no different, and our community celebrates those people to volunteer their time to improve the lives of people in our city and even further afield.
But now two young Dubbo women have been recognised on an even bigger stage, named as finalists in the ‘One to Watch’ category at the upcoming NSW Women of the Year Awards: Molly Croft, 15, and Izabelle Kelly, 9.
“Many people will already know Molly’s story – the girl who was diagnosed with bone cancer and not overcame her diagnosis, but used it to raise awareness and funding to support the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Australia,” Mr Saunders said.
“Molly is now in remission, but continues to mentor and advocate for young people in our regions.
“Izzy, is a delightful young lady who, at just 8 years old, sewed and donated more than 100 pouches for bushfire-affected joeys, and continues to encourage her peers to support native wildlife.
“Izzy is the youngest of the finalists but what she lacks in size she makes up for in enthusiasm!”
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor praised the cohort of 7 to 17-year-olds in contention for the award which highlights the efforts of girls and young women in NSW.
“Each and every one of these young women can be incredibly proud of themselves for standing up and standing out at such a young age,” Mrs Taylor said.
“From the nominees to the finalists, each of these future role models has had a look at the issues affecting the community around them and set their minds to making a real, practical difference.
“I was really touched to read the nominations that were submitted on behalf of these young girls, which came from teachers, employers, parents and neighbours, who spoke passionately about kindness, strength and determination.”
“These young girls are playing a significant part in helping us build a safer, stronger NSW for themselves, their families and the communities they are growing up in.”
Among the other finalists are young women who supplied farmers in drought with groceries, led a robotics team and someone who represented Australia in acrobatic gymnastics.
The finalists represent much of the state including Sydney, the Hunter, Riverina, Western Plains, Central Coast and Illawarra regions.
The winner will be announced on 9 March during NSW Women’s Week 2021, ahead of the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony.
The awards, which are in their 10th year, provide a comprehensive and targeted approach to promoting gender equality. They are an initiative of the NSW Women’s Strategy 2018–2022 and form part of NSW Women’s Week held from 8-15 March.
For more information, visit: women.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/women-of-the-year