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Cheryl’s dedication recognised with a Wurreker Award |
| 26 September 2011 |
 Mission Australia Program Coordinator - Indigenous Programs Cheryl Siely has been recognised for her work in the Gippsland region with a Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) Wurreker Award.On behalf of Mission Australia, Cheryl was presented with the ACE (Adult Community Education) Award on Thursday night at a ceremony held at the Aborigines Advancement League in Melbourne. Cheryl joined Mission Australia more than five years ago. She manages the L2P (‘L Plates to P Plates’) program, which involves 62 volunteer mentors working with 65 learner drivers, and the Aboriginal Driver Education Program (ADEP) in Bairnsdale. ADEP provides road safety training, assistance and resources primarily to Aboriginal people aged over 17 who live in the East Gippsland and Wellington Shire areas, while L2P involves volunteer mentors who help learner drivers without access to a car or supervising driver to build the 120 hours required for their P plates. Cheryl, who is from the Gunai Kurnai people, says she was thrilled that Mission Australia was honoured with the award. “I love working in the Koorie community, so to be recognised is fantastic,” she said. “In a region with limited public transport, gaining a licence is vital for young people’s mobility. And programs such as L2P program take some weight off families struggling to cope. “Importantly, helping young people to get their licences puts them on the pathway to employment and educational studies. It also helps us to engage with local youth and offer them access to other services.” Our Victorian State Chaplain, Digby Hannah, who attended the awards with Cheryl, said the award couldn’t have gone to a more deserving person: “Cheryl works so hard for the community, and has the respect of so many people – including the many loyal volunteers she manages.” Mission Australia’s Victorian Events Coordinator Sigrid Rynehart, who also joined Cheryl at the ceremony, agreed: “It's an amazing award for Cheryl because she has been nominated and recognised by the people she works with every day and those who have seen the positive benefits that the programs, as well as Cheryl's natural skills and abilities to motivate, have made on the community,” Sigrid said. “Cheryl is the only Mission Australia Community Services employee based in Gippsland, but she has great support from the Employment Solutions teams in Sale and Bairnsdale. She is such a legend and we are so proud of her!” With L2P’s funding scheduled to end in February 2012, Cheryl said it was more important than ever for the community to get behind the program and develop an extensive network of mentors to work with as many young people as possible. The VAEAI Wurreker Awards are held annually to recognise and celebrate achievements made by individuals, organisations and training providers.   |
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