Page 7 - PR Mag May18

Julie Greer Ngaire Stirling Rochelle Courtenay Karen Johns Sarah Crawford Renee Walls
Councillor Founder of Brisbane Kids Founder of Share the Dignity CEO of DARE Founder of NLCP&B Owner of BOQ North Lakes
Mum of 2, Grandmother of 5 Mum of 3 Mum of 2 Mum of 4, Grandmother of 7 Mum of 6 Mum of 2, Stepmum of 3

Our local Councillor for the past The Queen of kids events, Ngaire is A local champion for preserving the Valiant, big-hearted and stong-willed is A pillar of our local Community, Sarah A well-known, friendly face in our
twelve years, Julie demonstrates looked up to by thousands of women dignity of homeless women and the type of person every victim of has been a support person to many, both local Community, Renee has been
how to get the job done whilst being for saving their sanity during women experiencing domestic violence, domestic violence needs to support in person and online. Her willingess to making a difference in the lives of locals
a role model in our Community! school holidays! Rochelle is an inspiration! them, all of which Karen is. help strangers makes her one in a million. with her drive and passion.

Unknown to many, Julie’s involvement Eight years ago, Ngaire started Brisbane Only three short years ago the idea of Karen is no stranger to domestic violence, For five and a half years Sarah poured her For the last ten years, Renee has worked
with Council and the Community goes Kids with $100 as start up capital. Share the Dignity was conceived by having once been a victim herself, which heart and soul into the incredibly popular alongside her husband, Jeff, in the North
way back, before she even became our With three kids in tow, two of whom Rochelle. In such a short timeframe she’s planted the seed for the idea of DARE to Facebook page, North Lakes Community, Lakes Branch of Bank of Queensland.
local Councillor. Prior to the amalgamation have specials needs, she has built an been able to provide sanitary items to grow. She was previously a teacher and Parents and Businesses. As the admin of She was the Treasurer of Mango Hill
of Moreton Bay Regional Council, Julie online empire with a staggering 160k countless women in need, as well as raise a Pastor, the knowledge from those two the page, she created a welcoming hub State School’s P&C and later became the
worked for the Pine Rivers Council for Facebook following. awareness within the Community of this professions has benefitted her to help the for all members of the Community to Community Liason Officer for the school.
fifteen years as the Events Coordinator! urgent issue. women in our Community in need. come together and engage.
Ngaire believes there is no greater time The day that they received the keys to the
to start a business than when you’re
Her love of meeting people and trying to a mum. If you have a dream you’d like The idea came to her one day when she Her own experience taught her that Towards the end of the pregnancy of her bank was Renee’s first day of maternity
help them was what prompted her to put to fulfill, why not start yourself on the was reading an article about the number there was a gap in connecting services last child, she knew that the workload leave! Since then, they have provided
her hand up and run for Council. “Everyone path while you’ve got a little free time. of women who were in the position of to these women, who are often too afraid was becoming too much, so she made employment to ten local families.
has a story,” she says all-knowingly. It doesn’t need to cost a lot of money to being homeless. She discovered that to seek help. the decision to prioritise her family.
start a business. rather than purchasing sanitary items “You see customers everywhere in
Although she loves her job, she concedes with the meager funds they had, they “I just want to give women the hope that Sarah has since started a new business the Community”, Renee said. “Never
that it is quite demanding and does She found the most difficult aspect was would prioritise feeding their kids. there is a better life”, she said. On average, venture: Crawford Cleaning Care, which underestimate how the people you
take away from family life. “You need to find that ever elusive work/home life a victim returns seven times before has given her the opportunity to work already know can help you, it’s always
to find the balance,” she says. “You balance. “It’s very important to make sure She believes that she has arrived where permanently leaving and Karen is there around her family commitments. great to draw on their knowledge!”
have to have your family behind you.” you look after your mental health. I learnt she is today by surrounding herself with to support them every time, in a non-
that I could work non-stop and still not like-minded people. “People are willing to judgemental way. Sarah’s stong character saw her overcome Already involved in local sporting groups,
In her downtime, Julie likes to take her be able to get everything done, it was help”, she said. a massive challenge for the benefit of her Renee saw a great opportunity to embed
a hard lesson.”
Mustang for a drive with her partner, Gary. Due to her contributions to our health, a weight loss of 40kg. “I hope I themselves in their community. Recently,
As a passionate animal lover, in her spare Rochelle is the recipient of many awards, Community, Karen saw herself awarded helped empower others not to give up on Renee organised BOQ’s third annual
time, Ngaire is an activist for local wildlife. including Best Community Minded Mum. Moreton Bay Citizen of the Year 2018. their dreams!’ charity golf day, with much success!

May 2018 www.pineriversqld.com.au 7