Local heroes who go above and beyond recognised with Pride of Australia awards

THEY range in age from 12 to 86 and each one has contributed to the Tasmanian community in such a way that the mark they have left will last long after they have gone.

Two of the Pride of Australia Tasmania medal winners Lisa Jones of Kingston, left, and Campbell Remess, 12, of Acton. Pictures: SAM ROSEWARNE

THEY range in age from 12 to 86 and each one has contributed to the Tasmanian community in such a way that the mark they have left will last long after they have gone.

The efforts of these eight Tasmanians were celebrated at the Mercury’s Pride of Australia medal ceremony in Hobart yesterday.

Now in its 11th year, the Pride of Australia awards recognise Tasmanians who make it their business to give others a leg-up in life and improve their local communities.

Nine years ago, Kingston woman Lisa Jones’ world was turned upside down when her son Aaron was killed instantly in a horrific car accident on the Huon Highway.

Mrs Jones was yesterday awarded for her volunteer work that has involved speaking to more than 6000 young people about the consequences of taking risks on the road.

“Aaron had made some unfortunate choices throughout his life, but it wasn’t his bad choice that took him from us, it was others’ [choices],” she said.

Aaron was riding his Ducati motorbike when two men in their early 20s chose to race each other from Glenorchy to the Huon Valley.

One of the speeding cars slid sideways and hit him at 140km/h on the Huon Highway, north of Franklin.

“I like to tell the kids that even if they do make a bad choice, there are other directions they can go after, you don’t have to stay on that path,” Mrs Jones said.

“They are as loved as Aaron was to me and I hope they know that and it will flow onto the roads when they start driving.”

Mrs Jones said volunteering her time to tell her son’s story was a way to feel as though he was still around.

“My nomination for this award was in the Mercury on his birthday, so to me that was a sign from him that what I’m doing is OK by him,” she said.

Now a well-known face around Hobart, 12-year-old Campbell Remess continues to spread joy across the country through his Project 365, which creates bears and toys to give to sick children in hospitals.

AWARD WINNERS NICOLE WHITTON: For her work as a registered nurse providing both comfort and treatment to countless patients battling cancer. BILLIE RIDLER: Billie, 86, has been a tireless worker for the CWA, Red Cross, Port Arthur Memorial and has been a member and volunteer of the Nubeena Community Op Shop for more than 20 years. CAMPBELL REMESS: Twelve-year-old Campbell is the brains and heart behind Project 365 which creates bears and toys to give away to sick children in hospitals across Australia. LISA JONES: Nine years after the loss of her son, Lisa has volunteered her time to speak with 6000 young people this year in schools, colleges and sporting clubs about the consequences of taking risks on the road. JAIMES WIGGINS: Jaimes’s initiative, Relive the Rivalry, which is an AFL “legends” charity football game featuring retired Australian rules superstars, has raised more than $50,000 for Muscular Dystrophy Tasmania since its inception in 2012. PERCY JACQUES: Percy has volunteered at Kennerley Children’s Homes for almost 40 years. WAQAS AND HINA DURRANI: Waqas and Hina have spent countless hours since their arrival in Australia organising various events to promote human rights and multicultural events.

Last month he was featured in a video on SBS television’s Facebook page which has been shared more than 200,000 times, including to Ellen Nation — a fan website of US television personality Ellen DeGeneres.

Campbell said he had a Skype call from the Ellen crew and is awaiting a call back about featuring on the show.

Since becoming a fully registered nurse at the age of 20, fellow award recipient Nicole Whitton has provided both comfort and treatment to countless patients battling cancer.

“It’s more than a job for me, it’s my passion — I work with an amazing group of people,” she said.

For 86-year-old Billie Ridler, her voluntary work started 25 years ago when she started taking flowers to elderly people who came to the respite centre in Nubeena on their birthday.

Since then she has volunteered for the CWA, Red Cross, Port Arthur Memorial, the Nubeena Community Op Shop and even carried the torch for the 2000 Olympics.

Jaimes Wiggins will today be presenting Muscular Dystrophy Australia with an $18,000 cheque through his efforts to raise awareness and funds for the charity.

Over the past four years he has raised more than $50,000 via his initiative, Relive the Rivalry, which is a legends charity football game featuring retired AFL stars.

Board member and Kennerley Children’s Homes volunteer of almost 40 years, Percy Jacques is committed to ensuring the organisation remains viable.

“The need these children have is not diminishing — it’s getting greater and more difficulties are arising from problems with drugs in our community and children coming from homes affected by that,” he said.

“When I first joined, there were times we were close to disappearing because of finances — we were down to the last few bob — racing cheques to the bank to pay the bills and now we’re in a stable financial position.”

Pakistani-born siblings Waqas and Hina Durrani are changing lives through an initiative connecting refugees to potential employers.

Their Youth Networking Employer Bridging event enables newly settled Tasmanians to meet employers.

“We’d like to thank the Tasmanian community who have accepted and supported us since we came here as international students — the work we’ve been able to do since then is a reflection of that support we received,” Waqas said.

2016 Pride of Australia Tasmanian winners, form left, Nicole Whitton, Lisa Jones, Jaimes Wiggins, Campbell Remess, Percy Jacques, Billie Ridler and Waqas and Hina Durrani.

Originally published as Local heroes who go above and beyond recognised with Pride of Australia awards