TASMANIA

Tasmanian Community Achievement Awards

2022 Tasmanian Community Achievement Award Winners

 

Get Moving Tasmania Physical Activity Award

Womensport & Recreation Tasmania Inc Get Active Program enables community leaders to run small group physical activity and health education programs with Tasmanians most at risk of poor health outcomes. Programs address barriers such as low: self-esteem, motivation, body-comfort, stress-management, goal setting and nutrition. To date over three and a half thousand participants have successfully completed the program.

 

 

Heather & Christopher Chong Outstanding Achiever Award

Aaron Kropf of Devonport co-founded Loaves and Fishes Tasmania, taking on the good work started by SecondBite and adding components that encourage long-term change and focus not only on feeding people – but feeding people well. Loaves and Fishes provides relief to over 350 community programs, feeding over 16,000 people weekly. Aaron has invested over 21,000 paid and 7,500 volunteer hours in the food security field.

 

Paul Standing from Awards Australia accepting the award on behalf of Aaron Kropf

 

EPA Sustainability Award

Women's Health Tasmania of North Hobart is supporting women to try period-friendly underwear that replaces pads and tampons and is reusable. To conduct the project, WHT formed a partnership with Australian underwear, Modibodi, which provided bulk underwear at marginal cost. They also received an Urban Sustainability Grant from Hobart City Council. 252 women and non-binary people on low incomes were provided five free pairs of period-friendly underwear.

 

 

Fonterra Australia Agriculture Award
Tasmanian Junior Beekeepers of Richmond is a not-for-profit that gives children aged 7 to 17 free access to learning all aspects of beekeeping. Founded in 2017, they offer full pollination to plate program, an in-school bee awareness program, and on-site practical beekeeping sessions. Their goal is to transfer knowledge and beekeeping skills to the next generation. They also hosted the first Australian National Youth Beekeeping Meeting.

 

 

MAIB Disability Achievement Award

Corey Lee Barnes of Herdsman Cove overcame socio-economic disadvantage, child abuse, family breakdown and development delays. He has since transitioned to full-time employment and being trusted with additional responsibilities. Corey volunteers with The Big Issue Community Soccer Program and the Gagebrook Community Centre. In 2019, Corey represented Australia at the Homeless World Cup, which aims to inspire people facing housing insecurity and break down stigmas around homelessness.

 

 

Tasprint Community Group of the Year Award
Fingal Valley Neighbourhood House of Fingal was established in 1987. In December 2021, they opened a grocery store after the only grocery store in Fingal closed its doors. The store has since grown to have over 600 visits a week. It employs a coordinator and is linked to an employment program. Items close to spoiling are used to create meals and food hampers for vulnerable community members.

 

 

Healthy Tasmania Health and Wellbeing Award

Live Well Tasmania of Wynyard has run three years of projects aimed at increasing physical exercise, healthy eating and mental health. This includes 2 to 3 weekly sessions of arts, movement, gardening, cooking and music aimed at disadvantaged people. They manage a vegetable box scheme, which supplies organically grown vegetables to the local community. They have a 63-hectare Community Farm where they hold Forest Therapy walks.

 

 

APM Sustainable Disability Employment Award

Blueline Laundry of New Town is creating meaningful employment for people of diverse abilities, cultures and backgrounds. Of their 240 employees, 35% are people with disability, 35% are culturally and linguistically diverse, and 51% are female. Through their Supported Employment Program, team members with a disability perform real work alongside people without disabilities. They also have a sewing team that manufactures Alginate Bags, a medical-grade laundry product.

 

 

Awards Australia Small Business Award

Hill Farm Preserves of Sisters Creek manufactures premium natural condiments and reserves without artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. Hill Farm Preserves is currently run by its third owner, Karin Luttmer, who has refreshed the company and product branding. Their products are sold via a Victorian distributor and an online store. They also export their products to Japan. The business is led and largely staffed by local women.

 

 

People's Choice Award 

Just Cats Inc. of Longford is a charity that has taken and rehomed 8,000 cats and kittens since Rachel Beech founded it in 2012. In 2018, they opened a larger shelter for adoption, viewing and retail. In 2019, they took over the RSPCA Cat Shelter facilities in Mowbray. They operate a vet clinic and provide responsible cat ownership education programs and financial support to vulnerable cat owners.