DI WOODS, former manager at the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, has been named the 2023 Coffs Harbour Electorate Local Woman of the Year Award, an honour that recognises the significant support she has given to the local community.

This is an award program that recognises one woman from every electorate in NSW.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Selected by their local Member of Parliament, these women are outstanding members of their local communities.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh is keenly aware of the outstanding contribution Di has made within the Coffs community and welcomed the opportunity to acknowledge her hard work in our region, noting her “unflagging passion to make our community a better place.”

Mr Singh described Di as a community treasure.

“Di managed more than 60 volunteers and oversaw many initiatives including setting the Australian record for the most number of volunteers registered in an LGA, and leading Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre in being recognised in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award,” Mr Singh said.

Di told News Of The Area the Neighborhood Centre tripled the support it offered in the past three to four years.

“It’s a high demand job with a lot of people coming through, and you’ve got to be ‘on’, having self-awareness.

“Everyone deserves your respect and your full attention.”

Flexibility is another trait Di needed when managing the myriad needs of the community.

“In health and well-being, it’s not one-size-fits-all,” she said.

Tapping in to the different skills of her team brought rewards as new skills emerged and were recognised, providing tailored supports and best outcomes.

“I could not have had a better team to work with,” Di said.

Meeting with Di to present her with a bouquet of flowers and a framed certificate of recognition, Mr Singh said, “Di has been the backbone of our community, dedicating her time and energy to making a positive difference.

“I would like to acknowledge her significant efforts in supporting our local community over many years and thank her for her extraordinary work.”

In receiving her award, Di said, “Volunteers are the conduit of many regional communities.

“They fill an array of unmet needs, sustaining our community without seeking recognition.

“I continue to actively advocate for the recognition of volunteers across our community and the crucial role they play.

“The strength of a community is highlighted by its values; recognition of the number of amazing community members that volunteer across our community, across all diversity and all walks of life, is, as it should be, truly celebrated within our community.”

Di has taken up a new role with the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) while continuing to work in her home city, now on nationally reaching awareness campaigns.

By Andrea FERRARI