Blacktown City’s 2021 Woman of the Year announced

Published on 16 March 2021

For the sixth time in its history, the Blacktown City Woman of the Year Award has been jointly won by two outstanding local women.

Rissa McInnes and Harinder Kaur were co-named the Blacktown City Woman of the Year for 2021 at Council’s International Women’s Day breakfast on Monday, March 8.

The award was presented to Ms McInnes and Ms Kaur by Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM, and the Chairperson of Council’s Women’s Advisory Committee, Deputy Mayor Councillor Julie Griffiths.

“International Women’s Day is celebrated annually around the world to inspire women to achieve their full potential and to highlight women’s equality, and inequality, worldwide,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“Council has chosen to adopt this annual event as an opportunity to also spotlight the achievements of many of our talented, intelligent, and community-spirited women in Blacktown City.

“After the extraordinary and difficult year we experienced due to COVID-19, it was wonderful to be able to jointly name Ms McInnes and Ms Kaur as Blacktown City’s Woman of the Year.

“I know that through their combined passion and efforts Blacktown City’s women will be well-represented.

“I’d also like to thank our outgoing Woman of the Year Lisa Marie Lewis for her service in the role over the last 12 months.”

Rissa McInnes is a tireless volunteer and fundraiser for local charities.

Since her retirement in 2013 she has devoted herself to her community and has raised some $500,000 for local and international community groups including The Ponds Social School, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals, Autism Community Network and Rouse Hill Fire Brigade.

With her ‘can-do’ approach to life, Ms McInnes has undertaken leadership roles in a number of organisations such as The Ponds Lions Club, Blacktown City Lions Club, Phillipine Community Council, and Aguman Capampangan Australia.

Harinder Kaur has been employed in the Department of Communities and Justice for over 30 years and is currently an Education Services Coordinator at Dillwynia Correctional Centre. In her work, and in her local community, Harinder is a crusader for justice, in particular for women and families who have experienced domestic violence.

She is passionate, dedicated and loyal to those people who do not have a voice. She co-founded the Harman Foundation when her eldest son died in a car accident in 2012.

Despite her enormous grief she has worked tirelessly to support subcontinent communities to deal with death, domestic violence, family separation, incarceration and poverty. She has been instrumental in creating a new refuge, telephone support line and material aid services.

Deputy Mayor Griffiths said, “The Blacktown City Woman of the Year Award recognises the outstanding achievement of women within the local community through voluntary or paid work.

“It’s with great pleasure that we present Ms McInnes and Ms Kaur with this award – congratulations to the both of them on a well-deserved honour.

“The high calibre of all 22 nominees for this year’s Award have made an indelible impression on the judging panel.

“I’d like to thank my fellow Award judges, Councillors Kathie Collins, Carol Israel, and Linda Santos, as well as our 2020 Blacktown City Woman of the Year, Lisa Marie Lewis.

“I am so proud to be Deputy Mayor of a City made up so many talented women who are dedicated to improving the lives of those around them.”

In 2017 Blacktown City Council established a Women’s Advisory Committee to provide advice on issues relevant to women.

The Committee has supported the establishment of a new women’s refuge in the suburb of Dharruk, and is working with the families of domestic or family violence victims to design a new memorial garden at the Blacktown Showground Precinct.

Each year, Council hosts a Women’s Forum and in 2021 will host its inaugural Young Women’s Forum.

2021 Blacktown City Women of the year finalists

Nadiana Albistur is a young social justice champion working within Indigenous, multicultural and LGBTGIA+ communities. A recent Social Work graduate with first class honours, she has used her qualifications as a platform for change.

She is employed as a Senior Policy and Project Officer at Western Sydney Community Forum where she has undertaken a range of projects including an International Women’s Day “Voices of the West” event and video.

She has recently provided training in cyber security during the COVID-19 pandemic for community groups and agencies doing business on-line, co-founded the Blacktown Elder Abuse Prevention Collaborative and is assisting Dementia Australia to roll-out their Dementia Friendly Communities program across Western Sydney.

Mithila Zaheen is a junior doctor at Blacktown Hospital. She has a passion for health equality, with a particular interest in improving access for rural, Indigenous and refugee communities.

She volunteers extensively including for a refugee tutoring service for the Sudanese communities, homework club at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and with The Water Well and Share the Dignity programs.

Mithila is eager to give back to her profession. She has been appointed a Conjoint Associate Lecturer at Western Sydney University School of Medicine and is currently studying a postgraduate Master of Medicine in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Sydney.

Shelley Fletcher is a Senior Executive at Blacktown Workers Club where she drives their community engagement and volunteering programs.

She championed a major industry reform with Enterprise Agreements, creating a National benchmark which allowed paid Family Support Leave for staff experiencing domestic violence. This led to the Club becoming the first club to gain White Ribbon Australia Workplace Accreditation. During these activities she led from the front demonstrating her commitment and passion.

Shelley has initiated and led a number of initiatives at the club including promoting equal employment opportunities for women and multicultural groups, staff volunteer and fundraising initiatives and oversight of the Anita Coby fundraising community events.

Picture: (from left), Deputy Mayor Councillor Julie Griffiths, joint winners of the 2021 Blacktown City Woman of the Year Harinder Kaur and Rissa McInnes, and Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM.