Every year on Australia Day, you won’t find Donna Carson in Wingham or anywhere else in the MidCoast district.
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It’s not because she’s averse to Australia Day celebrations, quite the opposite. It’s because she’s down in Canberra, celebrating in a much ‘bigger’ way.
“I was Australian Local Hero of the Year back in 2004. I just thought I would have to go back the next year to hand the mantle over to the next Local Hero,” Donna explained.
“I was informed by the National Australia Day Council, ‘oh no, Donna, because you’ve been a finalist and the national winner you’ll always be invited back to Canberra, because you’re part of the family now’. Alumni, they call us.
Locals must think ‘oh Donna’s won this award and every time it’s Australia Day she’s never here!’. And this is where I am, down in Canberra going to these functions representing little old Wingham.
- Donna Carson
“Locals must think ‘oh Donna’s won this award and every time it’s Australia Day she’s never here!’. And this is where I am, down in Canberra going to these functions representing little old Wingham,” Donna said.
Every year since 2004, apart from one year, Donna makes the trip to Canberra to attend Australia Day events with past award winners and finalists yet to be awarded.
“In 2006 I was in the Ambassadors Program and I said I’d like to be an ambassador for the Manning district, just to pay back to my local community,” she said.
The yearly celebrations for Donna kick off with a cocktail event.
“I go down there, I’m invited to the Governor General’s Government House in Yarralumla, for the evening cocktail event on January 24 where just the finalists and their partners attend,” Donna said.
The next day the finalists meet with the Prime Minister for morning tea at the Lodge, after which they join the alumni for the Sponsor’s lunch.
This year, Donna was a little bit cheeky at the cocktail event and successfully bent the rules somewhat.
“I’ve known Governor General (General Sir) Peter Cosgrove from 2004 since I won it,” she explains.
“The GG (sic) gets very busy at these functions meeting everyone else and we’ve got the protocol not to take photos and things like that and I had a little sign made up, this is the first time I’ve done this.
“He was being directed to go to other finalists, but he spotted me and he said ‘No, no I’ve got to go and speak to Donna’.
“And I said, ‘Sir, do you mind if we hold this little sign up? Our little town is struggling, like all rural towns, shops closing, and our spirits need uplifting’. And he said, ‘Certainly.’
It’s all very emotional and very inspiring because every one of these finalists deserve recognition. Some of them are just ordinary people just getting on with their lives and doing something.
- Donna Carson
“I think the chairperson of the National Australia Day Council nearly died of embarrassment, because she doesn’t know me.
“Peter just gave me a big bear hug, everyone else got a handshake, I got the big bear hug and two kisses on either cheek, and held the sign up, ‘make sure you get some good photos’, so yes, that was done. It was a really special event.” Donna said.
It’s always a special event for Donna. She enjoys catching up with old alumni friends, and meeting the new crop of finalists.
“It’s all very emotional and very inspiring because every one of these finalists deserve recognition. Some of them are just ordinary people just getting on with their lives and doing something,” she said.
Donna won the Australia’s Local Hero award in 2004 for her volunteer work with women affected by domestic violence. A domestic violence survivor herself, Donna was doused with petrol and set alight by her then partner in 1994. She suffered horrific injuries and spent six months in hospital and 15 months in rehabilitation.
While rebuilding her life, Donna became a tireless advocate for survivors and was responsible for establishing the safe room at Taree Courthouse for women and children and acted as a support person for women and children throughout court proceedings.
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