Top 20 Blacktown local heroes: 15-11
WE CONTINUE our countdown of Blacktown city’s top 20 local heroes — some you might know, others you might not. This time we feature a famous zookeeper and Australia’s first indigenous Olympian.
Blacktown
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blacktown. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BLACKTOWN LOCAL HEROES
Local heroes: 20 to 16
SOME of Blacktown city’s local heroes are well-known, some not so much.
But what they all do is put their community first across numerous areas — youth, homelessness, education, disabilities or sport.
This week the Advocate will count down, from 20 to one, our picks for our top 20 local heroes. Some will be controversial, some obvious.
All 20 will be listed here with your opportunity to agree, disagree or suggest others who should be on the list.
15: CHAD STAPLES — FEATHERDALE WILDLIFE PARK
Chad Staples or Zookeeper Chad as he’s better known, has been a fixture at Blacktown’s favourite day trip — Featherdale Wildlife Park — for 21 years.
Mr Staples joined Featherdale as a fresh-faced junior zookeeper in 1997, and has gone on to become its director of life sciences and has helped it remain one of our city’s biggest tourist attractions.
Apart from being the face of Featherdale, Mr Staples is responsible for its species collection, staff, all areas and enclosures, education, training and the day to day medical care of the animals.
It’s a big job but he always has a smile on his face.
14: DAVE HAMMOND — JESUIT SOCIAL SERVICES
Here’s a local hero you might not have heard of, and that’s exactly how he likes it.
One of Blacktown city’s quiet achievers, Dave Hammond has been busily working to “change the narrative” of Willmot over the past two years.
A social worker Mr Hammond, who is originally from northern Sydney, moved his whole life to help lay the foundations for generational change in Willmot. He has been an essential member of the Together in Willmot group, which also includes Blacktown Council, The Hive, Willmot Public School and Rap 4 Change.
The group has overseen Willmot Community Hub being completely revamped. It is now a safe place for the suburb, hosting regular kids holiday clinics and countless community events.
A man with a big heart who has time for anyone, Mr Hammond has been a key player in the change we’re starting to see in the suburb.
13: REBECCA LEWIS — LALOR PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN
Lalor Park Community Garden’s Rebecca Lewis has deep roots in the community.
Started by Graeme Somerset and Common Groundz cafe founder Nathan Marshall, the garden has become a fixture for Lalor Park locals and Mrs Lewis’s advocacy and hard work has been a driving force in helping to cultivate that relationship. She has organised its successful Biggest Morning Tea events.
Mrs Lewis is one of more than 50 members who meet every Thursday and Saturday.
The garden has also become a haven for young residents, with regular children’s programs run at the Chifley Park facility.
It has become one of the west’s best edible gardens and an essential community space.
12: CR KATHIE COLLINS — BLACKTOWN COUNCIL
Councillor Kathie Collins has spent most of the last 27 years on Blacktown Council, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her contribution to the region.
First elected to the council in 1991, Cr Collins helped shape the local community during her 16 years served until 2012.
During that time she receive a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to the community, local government and charity.
Cr Collins lost at the 2012 election but continued to work for the community. She was involved in several grassroots campaigns, including serving on the committee for Blacktown Relay for Life. Cr Collins even took to the streets to clean local roads in her spare time.
Her continued advocacy for the region was rewarded when she returned to the council in Ward 3 at the 2016 local government elections.
Cr Collins is a passionate advocate for tackling domestic violence and homelessness in Blacktown city, and is part of several council committees including the Community Safety Committee, Environmental Committee, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Advisory Committee and the Combined Historical Societies Advisory Committee.
11: JOHN KINSELA — OLYMPIC WRESTLER AND MENTOR
John Kinsela fit more into the first 25 years of his life than many others manage in a lifetime.
Mr Kinsela, of Blacktown, is a two-time Olympic wrestler. He became the first indigenous Australian to represent his country at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico at age 18.
Before he knew it Mr Kinsela was fighting for Australian in another arena, this time as a conscripted gunner in the Vietnam War in 1970.
Somehow, he backed up his mentally scaring military service by qualifying for the 1972 Munich Olympics, where he was witness to the infamous terrorist attack on the Israeli team.
After retiring from wrestling he became a wrestling mentor for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at Mt Druitt PCYC. ‘Uncle John’ is also a juror and the former chair of the Circle Sentencing Justice Group.
He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 his service to wrestling and to youth.
BLACKTOWN LOCAL HEROES
Local heroes: 20 to 16
TUNE IN TOMORROW TO FIND OUT WHO MAKES IT IN OUR TOP 10.