Wyndham City is thrilled to announce that the winners of the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Awards program were revealed this morning.

Wyndham City’s Mayor, Cr Susan McIntyre was in attendance and presented the two awards.

“The awards recognise the outstanding contributions of two Wyndham City residents who, through hard work and dedication, have significantly contributed to our community,” Cr McIntyre said.

“These individuals help make Wyndham a better place. They offer outstanding service each day and enable our communities to be stronger because of their extraordinary efforts.”

Congratulations Leanne Down - Citizen of the Year 2023

Leanne Down is known for always going above and beyond to help the local community, over her time working with the Wyndham Health Foundation. Leanne has helped to raise over $180,000 to support public health care services in Wyndham ranging from paediatrics, ICU, emergency and palliative care.

Leanne also ensures patients who find themselves in hospital on days of significance have something to celebrate. She collects donations of new toys for children to wake up to on Christmas morning and Easter eggs to celebrate over the Easter period. She even raised and donated funds to help fatigued doctors and nurses during Covid with free coffee over a two-week period to let them know they were appreciated. 

In the nomination it said that Leanne’s enthusiasm for supporting the local community is infectious. She lives and breathes the Wyndham Health Foundations values of kindness, integrity, innovation and inclusion in everyday life. Leanne leads a dynamic team to help make a difference in the community and support the local public hospital in Wyndham.

Congratulations Juliette Bormeh Moe - Young Citizen of the Year

Juliette Bormeh Moe arrived from a refugee camp to Australia 11 years ago and since then has dedicated herself to her community by volunteering. Her outstanding commitment is evidenced by her past involvement as a youth leader for the Karenni Melbourne United Youth and now is the President of the Karenni Association of Victoria.

By overcoming her settlement journey as a young 14-year-old and the challenges this entailed she has continued to do her best, quietly studying, achieving her nursing goals, and caring for her community. She goes above and beyond in her nursing work because of her caring nature and commitment to the refugee community.

Her positive "can do" attitude is infectious. People around her tell of many young people aspire to be like her, with some going on to nursing study just like Juliette. She is extremely respectful of everyone she meets and open in her interactions. She has recently accepted the request to be a Board member of Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health so she can be a voice for the community.

The Wyndham community, which has a growing number of Karenni residents have benefitted enormously from Juliette's day to day involvement in their lives. She works at Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health in Hoppers Crossing as a practice nurse helping deliver high quality health care.

Because of her refugee background and ability to speak Burmese, Karenni and English, the clients feel valued, heard and very well cared for. She is often called on to interpret for the community and will often be called when clients are in A&E as they are unable to find an interpreter so she gladly helps. She always goes above and beyond.

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