Results – 2011 Hillross Top Bloke Awards
2011 Hillross Top Bloke Winner
Celli Lloyd
Home Town: Austimer
Age: 22
Volunteering is in Celli’s blood! In addition to donating blood as often as he can, he is deeply committed to helping refugee children through his tutoring work with SCARF – Strategic Community Assistance for Refugee Families. He also assists with fundraising efforts and community awareness events for APHEDA – Union Aid Abroad/Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad, a humanitarian aid agency for the ACTU. Celli has also dedicated his time to the ocean, helping people with disabilities to surf, fundraising and banding of pelagic sea birds with the Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association and volunteers as a life guard with Surf Life Saving Australia.
“Unfortunately in our society, money is often the easiest way to make things happen. By participating in the Hillross Top Bloke Awards I could potentially kill two birds with the one stone by raising awareness about the volunteering organisations I am involved in while hopefully acting as a role model to other young males in the Illawarra to encourage them to start volunteering for something they are passionate about.”
Click here for a full summary of the 2011 night
2011 Finalists
Ben Abraham
Home Town: Figtree
Age: 20
Ben is currently heavily involved with the startup not-for-profit organisation Mind Blank Inc, an organisation that generates awareness of mental health concerns in youth across Australia using interactive theatre pieces to engage youth in a fresh and unique way. Being deeply committed to raising awareness of mental health issues and volunteering several hours per week as business development manager, Ben applies his expertise in finance and management, enabling the organisation to reach more young people throughout NSW.
“I am extremely passionate about the mental well-being of all, especially the youth of the Illawarra and through the Hillross Top Bloke Awards I am able to actively promote my passion for Mind Blank and generate recognition for important, yet hidden issues which are rarely discussed in the media today”
Ben Torres
Home Town: Figtree
Age: 22
Ben began volunteering at House with No Steps, to support people with disabilities engage in activities within the community. Initially he supported a person to attend a work placement every week, but this soon became supporting a number of people with disabilities integrate into the community in a variety of activities.
Ben also involves himself in numerous charity events in the Illawarra, including MS 24hour Mega Swim, Mothers Day Fun Run, Bulli Burn 5km run, as a massage therapist. His love of the outdoors and physically engaging activities benefit the people he supports at House with No Steps increase their quality of life.
“By being part of the Hillross Top Bloke Awards, I aim to boost awareness about volunteering, encourage others and prove that making a difference does not have to start with a dollar. I also want to make a change of perceptions of young males and females in the community. I believe my contributions are a small step in achieving this. I encourage all young people to get involved at a level that suits them”
Joey Dawson
Home Town: North Wollongong
Age: 24
Passionate about helping those who are less fortunate, by fulfilling dreams while still having fun, Joey is committed to creating smiles through his ongoing volunteer work with Camp Quality – a children’s family cancer charity that believes in bringing optimisim and happiness to the lives of children and families affected by cancer. Organising fundrasing dinners to generate much needed revenue and assisting children on Camp Quality ski trips, Joey is always eager to make a sick child laugh, strongly believing that laughter is truly the best medicine. Along with this, Joey devotes his time to volunteering as a Surf Life Saver patrolling North Wollongong Beach and building ocean safety awareness within the Illawarra.
“Being involved in the Hillross Top Bloke Awards will help me promote the fact that not many young men between the ages of 18-24 volunteer in the Illawarra. If I can get out there and show just how fun it actually is to volunteer and inspire young men to give it a go, then I would be a very happy man!”
Sean Lu
Home Town: Blackbutt
Age: 21
Sean is heavily involved in the University of Wollongong Centre for Student Engagement Unicrew as Competitions Team Leader, in which he volunteers his time to promote and showcase students’ talents including his volunteer work with the National Campus Band Competition. Passionate about education and equal opportunities for all, Sean is currently President of the Golden Key Society – University of Wollongong. Working with students from various backgrounds, Sean successfully organises student and academic forums about social inclusion in education. His goal is to strengthen the relationship with the Golden Key Society and the children’s welfare organisation Barnardos South Coast through their Kid’s Friends Program.
“Being a finalist in the Hillross Top Bloke Awards is a great opportunity to see what other young men in the Illawarra are doing to positively impact on our local community. I have a tendency to feed off the energy of other people and love to listen to the stories of others and am looking forward to being inspired”
