Nominate your neighbour: 2022 Winners announced!
Nominate your neighbour: 2022 Winners announced!
In October 2022, we ran a competition for the WA community to nominate individuals who had brought joy to their street or local community this year, for a chance for those individuals to receive some Christmas cheer from our Synergy Elves.
We received many fantastic nominations and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in the competition!
After a challenging selection process, three worthy winners were chosen! These three winners received a visit from our Synergy Elves who decorated their homes with Christmas lights – and they will receive free electricity for three months.*
Karen was nominated as a community hero thanks to her work within her local Padbury community. She has worked hard to create a women’s group for the suburb, to support other women with exercise, mental health, togetherness and general wellbeing. She is also the suburb’s “bird lady” and is the first person who is called when someone has found an injured bird, and decorates a conifer tree on a Padbury roundabout with Christmas decorations, which is beloved by her community.
“This seems to be the perfect prize for her given her love of Christmas and community spirit.” Said her nominator, Carolyn.
Karen was absolutely thrilled when she found out that not only had she been nominated for our ‘Nominate Your Neighbour’ competition, but that she had won!
“It's always been a dream of mine to have Christmas lights on the house because, as a kid, looking at Christmas lights with my family was one of my favourite things each year, but it's just so expensive!” said Karen.
“We're really excited to host a bit of a casual Christmas street party once they're up! It sounds like HEAPS of our neighbours will be attending so it should be a really nice couple of hours catching up, maybe even meeting new faces, and celebrating our beautiful community together,” she added.
Larissa is a WA foster carer of six children, not including her biological children, and as well as being a super-mum, she is on the P&C for the local Primary Schools, manages a local basketball team, volunteers for the Telethon Research Institute, works with multiple charities for women experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and for Navy Families. According to her nominator, Shaniice, these are just some of her amazing efforts in supporting her community.
“Larissa deserves this as she has given so much for the children in her care, other families, women and other charities. She is the humblest, kind-hearted, and strong woman who does not recognise how her amazing efforts for her community have made such a big impact and are appreciated by so many,” said Shaniice.
Larissa was very excited to win the ‘Nominate Your Neighbour’ competition this year.
“I literally burst into tears hearing what Shaniice had written in my nomination. I hadn’t really realised how involved our family is in our community,” she said.
“Having Synergy pay for 3 months of electricity for us is just mind-blowing; we are a large family and our bills are quite big, it means money that is usually spent on bills can be put forward to presents and some special treats for the kids.
“Winning this is something we are trying to share with everyone who has helped us and we hope this brings some much-needed happiness to them this Christmas!” Larissa added.
Diane and her family have made community spirit a full-time gig, with her family having ran a local Community Centre and currently running a recycling not-for-profit called 'Sam’s Spares'.
“Diane works so hard to help others and I know she would love to be able to hold a Christmas party with the help of your lights,” said her nominator, Jonathan.
Diane was in shock when she found out that she had been nominated.
“Everything I do is for my love of community and with an open heart. Being recognised for my work is very humbling,” she said.
“I am excited to be part of the Synergy Xmas Lights Trail and I hope to host several community events over the next few weeks in collaboration with other local community groups and bring some Christmas Cheer… my youngest already has an elf costume and can’t wait to hand out candy canes!” Diane added.
View the display here.
Congratulations to our winners and thank you again to everyone who nominated a local hero in their community as part of the 2022 Synergy Xmas Lights Trail – Nominate Your Neighbour Competition!
Supporting Ruah Community Services
Synergy has partnered with Ruah Community Services to help bring light and hope to vulnerable and disadvantaged people at Christmas time.
Ruah Community Services supports Western Australians at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, family and domestic violence, and mental health challenges.
Click here to learn more or make a donation to the Ruah's Tree of Light, powered by Synergy Christmas Appeal.
*2022 Synergy Xmas Lights Trail – Nominate Your Neighbour Competition terms and conditions apply.
