By Alesha Capone
Truganina resident Winitha Bonney says she feels “seen and heard” after being awarded an Order of Australia Medal.
On Australia Day, Ms Bonney and 370 other Australians were appointed to the general division of the Order of Australia. .
Ms Bonney was acknowledged for her service to women, dance and the community.
She is the founder and chief executive of the not-for-profit Bounczn Dance Company, as well as being the founder of #ColourFULL, Australia’s first leadership and entrepreneurship conference and awards night by women of colour, for women of colour and their allies.
Ms Bonney also founded Amina of Zaria, a digital platform and community that empowers and educates women of colour to succeed in their career, business and life.
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When Sue Course looked out on what is now Darebin Parklands in 1973, she saw a wasteland â a tip that was earmarked for a freeway. She was appalled that some of the remaining trees along Darebin Creek were being bulldozed.
It inspired her, her husband Laurie and other locals to form a residentsâ group. Their decades of lobbying politicians to give the land to the public â and their hard labour removing weeds and rubbish and planting trees â was the basis of todayâs 33-hectare urban oasis in Alphington, in Melbourneâs north-east.
Urban oasis: Sue Course receives an OAM for her work creating Darebin Parklands.