Community heroes: Meet the Ipswich residents doing amazing things in 2023
As Ipswich struggled through pandemic, flooding and a housing crisis these are the faces rising to the challenge. SEE THE LIST
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Ipswich is home to countless helping hands and passionate individuals striving to make our community a better place.
As Ipswich struggled through the pandemic, flooding and the housing crisis in recent years, many new faces have risen up to lend support to those in need.
Others needed no extra encouragement, as they’d already been doing decades’ worth of amazing work in the community.
Meet the community heroes doing great work in Ipswich this year:
DAVID BERLIN
Having volunteered for Ipswich Assist for over nine years now, David Berlin has been dubbed one of the “unsung heroes” of Ipswich.
He regularly volunteers 30-40 hours a week, from picking up food in his own ute, to packing food hampers for people in need.
A spokesperson for Ipswich Assist said Mr Berlin “goes out of his way to support the clients, the staff and other volunteers in any way that he can”.
“David Berlin volunteers endless amounts of time with Ipswich Assist in many of our program streams.”
MATT BRITTON
Springfield Lakes resident Mat Britton started the charity Trail to Triumph in 2014 after his father Tony died from mesothelioma.
The charity raises funds for mesothelioma research with a ultra-marathons and other running events.
Mr Britton explained to the Courier Mail, “just before dad died I promised I’d do something big for him, I sat down with a few of his mates to come up with some kind of idea”.
“Running with dad was something I found special … That was our time”.
Trail to Triumph has raised more than $366,000 for the Lung Foundation Australia and Heart of Australia since Mr Britton’s father’s death.
In 2023, Mr Britton’s charitable efforts were acknowledged at the Ipswich Australia Day Awards, where he received the Sport and Recreation Award.
TERRY CARTER
Current president of Ipswich Men’s Shed Terry Carter has been active in community service for many years.
Since the 1980s, he has served as president of the Raceview School P & C, North Ipswich Rotary and Ipswich Apex.
Mr Carter has also received accolades for his services including a Paul Harris Fellowship Award for Community Service, and a Senior Active Awards recognition.
He is also a strong advocate for the Ipswich Prostate Cancer Support Group, as he himself is a survivor.
In 2011 he took another step forward in community service by joining the Ipswich Men’s Shed where he soon took on leadership roles as secretary, treasurer, and then as president, a position he has held for over six years.
Under Terry’s leadership, the Men’s Shed has grown in stature to become the largest, most friendly, and most well-known Shed in the Ipswich area, offering support and friendship to many men, whilst easing loneliness and potential suicide risk across the Ipswich region.
LAUREEN COLLIE
Laureen Collie volunteers as an interviewer for Ipswich Assist’s emergency relief program.
The program helps locals with access to food hampers, assistance with utility bills, rent assistance, pharmacy vouchers, and local op-shop vouchers.
A spokesperson for Ipswich Assist said Ms Collie: always goes above and beyond with a smile, a listening ear and a compassionate heart”.
Ms Collie also volunteers at the Ipswich Assist reStore, which runs each Thursday and provides the community with budget-friendly (and often free) essentials.
JILL COSTELLO
Jill Costello co-founded Man Up Australia with her husband Brian in 2009 after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Mr Costello sadly passed away in 2018 after battling several melanomas and lung cancer.
Ms Costello remains passionate about promoting more widespread education about prostate cancer, particularly in rural communities.
She now lives in Kholo, Ipswich, and was recently honoured with an Order of Australia medal for her work raising prostate cancer awareness.
DONNA CAVANAGH
Donna Cavanagh is an active volunteer around Ipswich, as was recently awarded the title of Citizen of the Year at the Ipswich Australia Day Aways.
Ms Cavanagh organises Crossroads in the Park, which provides free services including hot meals, haircuts and clothing every third month.
She is also involved with Ipswich Foodbarn, Goodna Street Life, Hannah’s House, Down to Earth and Women’s Crisis Support Services
VICKI DOIG
Vicki Doig is the former director of the Milford Street Ipswich Kindergarten for 40 years and a proud third-generation Ipswich resident.
Her sister Regina Doig tragically passed away of lymphoma cancer at the age of just 39, and now Vicki Doig is forging a lasting legacy in her sister’s name with the Regina & Vicki Doig Fund, in partnership with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.
Ms Doig is passionate about building the capability of the region through innovative medical research, after her sister gave her living body over to her doctors before her passing.
The organisation will be holding a charity morning tea at Brothers League Club, 20 Wildey Street, Raceview on March 4, 2023.
RITA LANGER
Rita Langer was recently awarded the Ipswich Senior Citizen of the Year award for her legendary service to the Ipswich community.
She is well known in the community for her over 50 years of volunteering at the Norths Tigers and Blair State School.
She has also volunteered for many years at Ipswich Meals on Wheels.
Mother of the legendary footy star Alan Langer, Mrs Langer is regarded by many as a legend in her own right.
In 2023, Norths Tigers players and Blair State School students can expect to enjoy Mrs Langer’s famed cooking and everlasting enthusiasm for her community for another year.
JACQUI MARTIN
Jacqui Martin founded local charity Lisa’s Lunches to provide food to families whose lives have been affected by cancer.
The charity is in honour of her friend Lisa Heuston, tragically passed away due to cancer in 2017.
Mrs Martin told the Queensland Times she started the organisation to try and relieve some of the everyday stresses for families going through a similar thing.
“There’s literally been hundreds and hundreds of people that have helped over the years – businesses, organisations, schools, community groups, individuals … Anyone can do it from [age] 10 to 90, because there’s something for everyone.”
In 2023, Lisa’s Lunches is still going strong and has recently started handing out lunch packs for the start of Term 1 of school.
MARK NUGENT
Ipswich-based paramedic Mark Nugent was recently awarded with an ambulance service medal after 33 years of service.
The Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor was recognised for his experience in emergency management and passion for staff and patient welfare.
Mr Nugent told the Courier Mail his job often saw him face confronting situations, but he loved the positive influence he could have on people’s lives.
Even when faced with the most devastating scenes, Mr Nugent said “our presence does a lot and if you remain calm, you can lead people through some of that”.
AILEEN PICKWELL
Now in her 80s, Aileen Pickwell has been volunteering for Ipswich Assist for nine years now.
She spends every Tuesday lending a hand at their Tuesday Emergency Relief day, and Thursday helping out at their reStore – where the community can purchase grocery, cleaning and toiletry items at discounted prices.
Ms Pickwell also assists by packing and giving out food and hampers to people in need, and otherwise supporting clients in need of assistance.
NOAH SPRINGALL
Ipswich’s newest Young Australian of the Year Noah Springall has a passion for helping his community whenever he can.
He has raised money for victims of floods and bushfires, hospitals, cancer foundations and the RSPCA.
During the Stanthorpe bushfires, he helped rally the community to collect supplies and supervised the delivery to Purple Dove Awareness.
Noah will have a busy school schedule in 2023, but plans to continue fundraising – starting with participating in the Small Steps for Hannah event, which raises funds for domestic violence awareness and support.
BRUCE TINWORTH
Native plants guru Bruce Tinworth has been lending a helping hand recently at his retirement village Carinity Elim Estate.
Mr Tinworth has a passion for using local native flora to re-establish wildlife habitat in the urban environment, which stemmed from adventures in the bush with his grandfather.
He has written books including Garden Escapees Become Environmental Weeds and 100+ Invasive Weeds of Ipswich.
The retired TAFE teacher and Greenpeace member has consulted on numerous conservation projects and government environmental initiatives.
He was Ipswich City Council’s first Conservation Technical Officer and is a life member of the Ipswich branch of Native Plants Queensland.
In 2023, Mr Tinworth is retired but still forging forward in his passion and helping steer his retirement village in a greener direction.
WAYNE “RUSTY” GIBBENS
Wayne “Rusty” Gibbens is well known throughout the Ipswich community and schools, and a valued asset to the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch.
You will often see Mr Gibbens at RSL’s regular selling sites for their fundraisers in the Ipswich District.
He is the number one fundraiser for the Ipswich RSL Sub Branch’s veteran community, and assists members at Memorial Hall on a daily basis.
A spokesperson for Ipswich RSL Sub Branch said “Rusty has been extremely kind and generous to our cause with the hours he puts into our fundraising”.
“He is extremely dedicated … It is an honour and privilege to have Rusty part of our team.”
ROSS WADSWORTH CSM
Retired RAAF member Ross Wadsworth CSM is a volunteer wellbeing officer at Ipswich RSL Sub Branch.
He works tirelessly within the local veteran community, with a passion for helping veterans and their families.
In addition to his role as wellbeing officer, he also volunteers with other members to provide a poppy service for veterans who have passed away.
A spokesperson for Ipswich RSL Sub Branch said “[Mr Wadsworth’s] commitment to the RSL and Veteran Community is outstanding and it is an honour and a privilege to have Ross volunteer with and Organisation like Ipswich RSL Sub Branch”.
ROBIN “TALLMAN” WAKKAJINDA
Renowned local Indigenous artist Robin ‘Tallman’ Wakkajinda is passionate about encouraging local indigenous communities to flourish.
He transformed his life from using drugs and alcohol, to creating incredible art pieces as the principal artist of the Living Breathing Gallery in Bell Street.
“You don’t need drugs and alcohol to find your happiness — you can find happiness through your art,” Mr Wakkajinda told the Courier Mail back in 2013.
“I left Ipswich for five years, came back and the same people were still sitting in the mall not doing anything with their lives.
“I’ve seen the light, I’ve got away from the drugs and alcohol and now I want others to help others too.”
Mr Wakkajinda recently won the Cultural Award at Ipswich’s 2023 Australia Day Awards, where they praised his work at Bell Street for bringing beauty and a sense of safety into the community.
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