State and Territory Local Heroes

You can read the inspiring stories of your Local Hero Award recipients by clicking on the links below.

ACT Local Hero

Alan Jessop, Palmerston
Salvation Army champion

Alan Jessop is a familiar face to Canberrans passing through the city centre. For 22 years he has collected for the Salvation Army, watching the city evolve and change around him.

As new buildings have gone up, Alan has moved his worn stool to a new location. Alan has previously worked as a tailor, plumber, gas fitter, dairy farmer and has owned a number of post offices, but it is his many years of service to the Salvation Army for which he is best known.

There are not many prepared to sit for hours collecting but Alan is inspired by the Salvation Army's good work in the region which includes a drug and rehabilitation program, a welfare centre and community churches. It has been said that the Salvation Army offers caring support for every problem 'from the cradle to the grave'.

Despite suffering two heart attacks and prostate cancer, Alan continues to collect three days a week for the charity he is so passionate about, only missing the odd day for a medical appointment. At the age of 80, Alan has no intention of stopping his charity work. His dedication and diligence are remarkable.

NT Local Hero

Djapirri Mununggirritj, Yirrkala
Indigenous leader

Yolgnu elder Djapirri Mununggirritj is committed to addressing the issues facing her community, including drugs, alcohol and violence.

In 2004, she was instrumental in establishing the Yirrkala Women’s Patrol which saw Aboriginal elders walk the streets late at night to successfully deal with domestic violence, alcohol and other community safety issues.

Djapirri coordinates patrol rosters, participates in patrols and liaises with police and community members. She also spent five years managing Nambara Arts and Crafts and as an accomplished artist herself is committed to the protection and promotion of Yolgnu art. She is currently Manager of the Yirrkala Women’s Centre and is a trailblazer in the political arena.

She was the first woman elected as Vice Chair of Yirrkala Dhanbul Council and the first woman to be nominated as Chair. She has worked hard in her community to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, organising women's nights where Yolgnu and Balanda (white) women can meet and share culture. She is also working towards reconciliation on a national scale in her role on the board of Reconciliation Australia. Djapirri is a strong woman with a deep commitment to her people.

QLD Local Hero

Dr Don Bowley, Mount Isa
Rural doctor

For the last 14 years Don Bowley has been working as a doctor with the Mount Isa Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), caring for people in an area larger than the country of England. This part of Australia includes remote townships, rural stations and Indigenous communities, and Don's support of its people is legendary.

To Don, being a doctor is not just a job, it's a way of life. The dedication, friendship and ongoing care that he offers all his patients has earned him their respect and love.

Living in an isolated area and facing accidents and illness generates a great deal of anxiety. Even with the RFDS, help can be two hours away, but Don is always on the end of the phone, calmly offering advice, understanding and reassurance.

Don believes it is a great privilege and honour to get to know people's stories and look after them in good times and bad. He is always trying every avenue possible to gain funding to improve the infrastructure of health clinics in the area, often donating his own money when there is a need. He has a well-deserved reputation for being 'the best in the west'.

SA Local Hero

Peter Goers, Norwood
Benevolent radio personality

Peter Goers is an actor, director, reviewer, former academic and host of the ABC Local Radio program, The Evening Show, which broadcasts throughout South Australia and into New South Wales.

His career has spanned over 35 years in the entertainment industry, across a range of different mediums including television and theatre. Once a feared arts critic, Peter describes himself as a reformed social irritant. As a columnist for Adelaide's Sunday Mail and a radio announcer he has won himself a dedicated audience.

Peter has lent his prominent public profile to volunteer for various community organisations across South Australia. Peter is patron of six arts and community organisations, ambassador for numerous charities and the Port Adelaide Football Club. Attending more than 120 community events in the past year, he has taken on a range of responsibilities from public speaking, mentoring and committee work, to assist in raising awareness of local programs and events.

His commitment is notable with almost all of his spare time spent supporting these community, artistic and cultural groups in achieving their goals. It is a contribution he prefers to think of as 'a rare privilege'.

TAS Local Hero

Senior Constable Ian Edwards, Somerset
Police officer

As a member of the Tasmania Police Early Intervention & Youth Action Unit, Senior Constable Ian Edwards has helped transform his local community of Shorewell Park, Burnie.

Prior to 2008 the community had a number of challenges to face. A large number of its residents are in long term unemployment and low school attendance was common in children of all ages, coupled with a high rate of anti-social behaviour. Although it is only a small community of 900 families, Burnie was struggling. After being encouraged by a local MP to think about what he might do to help the children of the area, Ian set up Kommunity Kids.

Through sheer hard work and conviction Ian has created a safe and accepting environment that today attracts up to 200 children, with 50 on a regular basis.

Kommunity Kids offers structured games and sporting activities, arts and craft. Positive friendships between the children are encouraged to develop alongside constructive relationships with authorities. As it receives no official funding, Ian and his fellow police officers dig into their own pockets to keep Kommunity Kids alive. Under Ian's guidance the program has been successful in creating trust between troubled children, their parents and the police.

VIC Local Hero

Waleed Aly, Mitcham
Multiculturalism champion

Waleed Aly is a commercial lawyer, as well as a board member and spokesperson for the Islamic Council of Victoria. He has risen to prominence as a young, articulate spokesperson for the Australian Muslim community due to his considered commentary on human rights and multiculturalism within Australia.

Although Waleed works as a lawyer, he still finds time to devote to journalism. Waleed's articles on politics, religion, community and sport appear in newspapers all over Australia. In 2005, he won a Walkley Award Commendation for his work. Also in 2005, he was made the White Ribbon Day ambassador for the United Nations' international day for the elimination of violence against women, and was named one of The Bulletin's 'Smart 100' in 2007.

Waleed is also a commentator on radio and television, speaking on issues concerning Australia's Muslim community and the relationship between Islam and Western values. He was one of 40 Australians selected as a youth leadership delegate to the Future Summit in Melbourne in 2005.

As an Australian and a Muslim, he is keenly aware of the role he plays in helping other Australians to think about our country's multicultural identity, and the social and political sensitivities that this arouses.

WA Local Hero

Mary Victor O'Reeri, Broome
Suicide prevention advocate

After Mary O'Reeri's two brothers died from suicide two years apart, she decided to take action. Through her work as a primary school teacher, grandmother and foster carer, Mary knew that the solution lay in a collective effort.

In 2009, Mary convened the inaugural Blank Page Summit in her remote community at Billard in the north west Kimberley. Her goal was to stop the epidemic of suicide by Indigenous people, through inviting individuals with the will and capacity to effect fundamental and lasting change to create an action plan.

People came to the Summit from communities across Australia representing fields as diverse as sport and recreation, land management, justice, mental health, child protection, counselling, education, disability, academia, government, politics and a range of community-led initiatives. The results were immediate and tangible as people focused on creating 'suicide proof' communities in the wake of the Summit.

In 2010 the Blank Page Summit focussed on the conversations ('hard yarns') people need to have to improve attitudes and relationships, particularly where there are intractable social problems that defy orthodox problem solving strategies.

Mary's work demonstrates the profound impact of grass roots initiative and leadership in resolving trauma and preserving life.