Pride of Australia: Soul sister on a mission

MARNEE May grew up in the hardened western suburbs of Melbourne, surrounded by public housing, violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

Marnee May, 24, has been nominated for a Young Leader medal for the Pride Of Australia awards by her friend and colleague Jessica Brown, founder of Sister2Sister Lifechanging Experiences Foundation where Marnee works. To help raise money for the foundation, Marnee co-authored a cook book. Picture: Toby Zerna

MARNEE May grew up in the hardened western suburbs of Melbourne, surrounded by public housing, violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

But her supportive parents were enough to steer the determined teen in the right direction.

The value of their guidance is what she saw in the Life Changing Experiences Foundation’s SISTER2Sister program, for which she has worked and volunteered for five years, after moving to Sydney to study.

“I came from an area that had the same issues our girls are facing, so I have a real insight into what they are dealing with,” the 24-year-old from Coogee said.

Ms May has been nominated for The Daily Telegraph’s prestigious Pride of Australia Young Leader Medal.

Marnee May and colleague Jessica Brown, founder of Sister2Sister Life changing Experiences Foundation. Picture: Toby Zerna