Recently I was lucky enough to accompany one of our Paper Angels, Ursula, to the Logan City Australia Day Awards, where she had been nominated for an award. Just to name a few of the many community contributions Ursula made this year, she organized a highly successful 'Arty Farty Morning Tea Party' to raise money for Cancer Research, worked tirelessly to support the Paper Angels Charity Endeavours and also volunteered her beautiful voice in a Queensland Choir that recently toured Singapore.
What makes this all the more remarkable is that all of this is achieved under challenging circumstances. Ursula's husband Aaron has severe aplastic anaemia. Whilst Ursula did not win her section, it was wonderful to see all the good works that she does recognized formally. As well as receiving her achievement certificate, she was acknowledged on stage and we both thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous evening which included entertainment from Greg Doolan (Wickity Wack) and a sit down meal which was top notch. The entire evening was highly impressive and I am just so grateful that Ursula shared it with me.
I guess what stuck in my mind was that the nominations and awards were being given to real people making real community contributions. They even had a good neighbour award, which was awarded to someone who helped to mediate (I'm assuming successfully!) a conflict between neighbours in the community. So much better than the often ridiculous national awards given to sports and entertainment stars, who lets face it are amply rewarded financially for their work and are hardly in need of an accolade.
Well done Ursula - If I'd been judging you would have won!
What makes this all the more remarkable is that all of this is achieved under challenging circumstances. Ursula's husband Aaron has severe aplastic anaemia. Whilst Ursula did not win her section, it was wonderful to see all the good works that she does recognized formally. As well as receiving her achievement certificate, she was acknowledged on stage and we both thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous evening which included entertainment from Greg Doolan (Wickity Wack) and a sit down meal which was top notch. The entire evening was highly impressive and I am just so grateful that Ursula shared it with me.
I guess what stuck in my mind was that the nominations and awards were being given to real people making real community contributions. They even had a good neighbour award, which was awarded to someone who helped to mediate (I'm assuming successfully!) a conflict between neighbours in the community. So much better than the often ridiculous national awards given to sports and entertainment stars, who lets face it are amply rewarded financially for their work and are hardly in need of an accolade.
Well done Ursula - If I'd been judging you would have won!
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3 comments:
Ursula you're a very deserving and selfless young woman.
Liz,you’re correct that persons like Ursula are rightfully the people to whom accolades should flow and not to celebrities of one kind or another who receive awards for simply doing what they're paid to do.
Carmel
Hear! Hear! What Carmel said is spot on. Congratulations Ursula, keep inspiring those around you.
Megan
You inspire us all to do better and think less of the things we can't change - congratulations on the honour of being nominated!
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