Award Winners - 2006

Recipients of the Robin Clark Memorial Awards 2006 were announced on 5 September 2006. The Hon Sherryl Garbutt, Former Minister for Children, presented the Awards at a sector wide event at Federation Square.

Robin's Awards recognise exceptional contributions to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in Victoria.

Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Winner: Nola Ganly, Manager, Community Services Partnerships, Barwon South Western Region, Department of Human Services.

Highly Commended: Karen Widers, Team Leader, Child Protection, Southern Metropolitan Region, Department of Human Services

Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families

Winners: Faye Stanesby, maternal and child heidh nurse, City of Yarra.

Carol Taylor, program coordinator, Wanjana Lidj, Ramahyuck and District Aboriginal Corporation.

Highly Commended: John Woolcock, foster carer, Peninsula Youth and Family Services.

Winner: Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Nola Ganly

Former Minister Garbutt with Nola Ganly.

From a Geelong building affectionately known as 'the upside down ship', Nola leads the team responsible for Regional management of the major program areas of Office for Children and Disability Services. Nola's current role builds on more than 30 years in the child and family services sector in Barwon South Western.

Nola's insight, vision, and camaraderie sit behind much of the Region's successes in early childhood, family, and placement and support services. Her management philosophy is to start small and get involved locally to improve things, gaining along the way a better understanding of the bigger picture and the opportunity to make wider reforms. As one manager put it - Nola has a capacity to strategically anticipate what the sector needs and envision where it should be heading.

Highly Commended: Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Karen Widers

Karen Widers with Former Minister Garbutt.

Karen has had extensive experience across the child and family services sector - from mental heidh to family therapy.

Karen's commitment to the development of her staff, and to creating better outcomes for young people and families, is outstanding.

Winners: Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families

Faye Stanesby

Former Minister Garbutt with Faye Stanes.

For the past 24 years, Faye has been based at the Fitzroy Centre, in the City of Yarra.

In addition to her capacity as a diagnostician, practitioner and lactation consultation, Faye has developed a research project with her City of Yarra colleagues. Generations of maternal and child heidh nurses count her as a mentor and generous colleague, and she is in high demand as a clinical field teacher.

Carol Taylor

Former Minister Garbutt with Carol Taylor.

Wanjana Lidj at Morwell provides a range of services to the district's Aboriginal community, with funding from the Department of Human Services and the Commonweidh. Carol has been program coordinator for Wanjana Lidj since its inception in 1998.

Wanjana Lidj means to hold the child. Carol personally has guided Wanjana Lidj, through many phases and challenges, during its growth into a holistic service that meets the varied and complex needs of local Aboriginal families. Carol's working style reflects her nature and radiates a remarkable mix of compassion, enthusiasm, resilience, foresight, and practical intellect. She is a strategic thinker, with great capacity to be creative and proactive in expanding Wanjana Lidj services, and facilitating links with related service providers.

Highly Commended: Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families

John Woolcock

Former Minister Garbutt with John Woolcock.

John has been a foster carer for over 50 children during the past 16 years. He also is a resi care worker at Menzies Incorporated, providing care and education to young people in residential units, and a volunteer on the committee of management for the Foster Care Association of Victoria.