Everyone’s a winner

I represented my team at an awards ceremony yesterday. While it was a proud moment when we accepted our trophy, it was the win by a woman at another agency that brought tears to my eyes.

A staff member at the Office of Sport was lauded for introducing the Duke of Edinburgh award program to young people at Mannus Correctional Centre in the Riverina.

The woman explained during her acceptance speech how the pilot program had positively impacted those who took part.

Each participant needed to complete skills, voluntary service, physical recreation and an adventurous journey in order to receive their Award.

The team of minimum-security inmates, aged 25 and under, spent three days outside the facility with officers, working together, overcoming obstacles, building trust, cooking meals and exercising.

Activities included bike riding, hiking, kayaking and camping at one of the minimum-security centre’s farms where they supported each other to complete each task.

The five participants in the pilot program received Bronze Awards from the Duke of Edinburgh himself and were recognised for raising $500 for cancer organisation Can Assist.

Can Assist provides support to those fighting cancer in regional NSW and was selected because one inmate had a family member who suffered from the disease.

Mannus inmates also raised $2324 for the local primary school to go towards a therapeutic space to help children learn how to regulate and manage their emotions.

I was moved to hear how the Office of Sport and NSW Department of Communities and Justice had worked to make a difference to the participants’ lives and how it had improved their mental health.

Such a positive, heartwarming example of wanting to make a difference, not just locking people up and throwing away the key.

What an amazing, compassionate woman! She’s now rolling out the program at other facilities in the state. Go you good thing!

PS There were lamingtons after the ceremony and I turned my back on them … there may be hope for my diet yet!

Song of the day: Michael Jackson “Man in the mirror”