Unsung hero kick-starts new career

One of the Moreton Bay Region’s most remarkable volunteers will use a National Council of Women in Queensland (NCWQ) bursary to train and help even more people.

Rebecca Patterson, from Morayfield, is this year’s regional recipient of a $1000 NCWQ bursary for her long list of community service work.

The 40-year-old plans to use the bursary, received at Moreton Bay Regional Council this week, on a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree at the USC Moreton Bay campus in Petrie.

Safety services

“This bursary will go a long way to assisting my studies, which I hope to use to transition into youth and child safety services,” Rebecca says.

“You don’t volunteer your time in hope of one day receiving awards or praise, but it is very humbling to be recognised by NCWQ and Moreton Bay Regional Council. I’d like to say a massive thank you to both organisations for supporting me and for supporting young women across the region to achieve their goals.

“I would also like to acknowledge the amazing Karen Wolfenden, who recently passed away. Her selflessness and tenacity is the reason myself and many others began volunteering and she will forever remain one of my biggest inspirations.”

The annual NCWQ ceremony helps foster the next wave of community leaders and celebrate the achievements of female students across the country.

Remarkable resume

Mayor Peter Flannery, who presented Ms Patterson with the award, says she has a resume of community work which is larger than most people’s lifetime achievements.

“Although Rebecca has already enriched the lives of many in Moreton Bay, I hope this bursary gives her the push to become an even greater community leader,” Mayor Flannery says.

“Rebecca is one of those amazing people who makes us all stop and think we could be doing a little more to help our local community.”

She was an executive committee member of Caboolture Little Athletics for seven years and has been a regular helper for junior rugby league at Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast.

She was also behind a campaign that supported a local mum who had suffered a spinal stroke and recently helped at Moodlu Districts Men’s Shed.

Moreton Bay Regional Council has supported the NCWQ bursary program since 2014.

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