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Lisa Menchetti
Lisa Menchetti's incredible coolness under presure saved the lives of two skydivers. The professonal pilot was asked to observe what takes place in parachute operations. On a flight on September 10, 2005, what unfolded was a life-threatening incident that required so much more than observation. The flight was going to plan until the second tandem pair exited the aircraft and became attached to the plane. As panic set in, Lisa tried to do everything she could to release the two skydivers, to no avail. Communication with the pilot was difficult due to the noise in the plane and most distressing was the realisation that the plane was running out of fuel. There were now four lives in danger. Lisa saw that the skydivers were exhausted and badly hypothermic. With quick thinking, she told the pilot to idle the engine, extend the flaps and force the nose of the plane down to create negative Gs. Lisa then bravely struggled to pull the skydivers free, while trying not to get flung from the aircraft herself. Finally, she released the clasp and watched the divers disappear under an open parachute.
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Bev and John Lowe
Bev and John Lowe were driving home through Perth a few years ago and noticed several homeless people in a park. Disturbed, Bev felt prompted to go home and make a pot of soup to bring back to them. And so began what has now grown to be Manna Ministries. Bev and John pursued their dream of a regular nightly soup kitchen in central Perth, originally paying for it out of their own pension. Their passion and devotion has attracted many volunteers to Manna Ministries. In addition to the soup kitchen, Bev and John also run a training program for small groups of students taking them through the process of sourcing, preparing and serving food and active charity involvement. They also have a Breakfast Club for children in schools in impoverished areas. Food parcels, counselling and referral services are also offered.
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Genevieve Wickham
Genevieve Wickham, aged 28, suffered a stroke after elective surgery, four months after her wedding. Genevieve was in hospital for almost a year and underwent intensive rehabilitation and further surgery. She was unable to talk, walk, eat, read, write or cope with the day-to-day activities of normal living. Over the five years of her recovery, Genevieve has shown immense courage. In January 2006, she finished second in the National and International Access Dinghy Championships in Melbourne and in May 2006 she won the WA state championships in the Access 303 sailing class. It was a wonderful day when Genevieve worked hard to regain her driver's licence giving her independence and confidence. Genevieve's courage is an inspiration to people as she cheerfully accepts all of the challenges in her path.
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June and Lloyd Butcher
June and Lloyd Butcher have been caring for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife at their property in Gooseberry Hill since the 1960s. A hospital facility was built on their property now known as Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. About 1500 sick animals from all over the state are brought there each year to be nursed back to health so they can be released back into their natural habitat. The centre operates 365 days a year with about 120 volunteers helping June and Lloyd to care for the wildlife and run the centre. The couple still work there seven days a week. Their dedication to caring for wildlife and their enthusiasm for educating the community on how to protect and conserve our fauna is an inspiration.
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Brian and Maureen Coxe
Brian and Maureen Coxe have worked tirelessly and selflessly with families in crisis for more than 30 years. Together, they have fostered more than 200 children. Both born in the UK, Brian and Maureen migrated to Australia in the early 1970s with their four children. Since then they have fostered many children on a short-term basis. They opened their home to many children, including a girl with Down syndrome who was cared for by the couple for 28 years. Despite their ailing health, Brian and Maureen have devoted their entire lives to children and their families, always at a personal financial cost, but never at the expense of their own family.
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Pri Adilbert
Pri Adilbert is a volunteer and friend to many people. She has assisted many others throughout her life, with one prime example being her commitment to caring for her friend who was very ill over a long period of time. Pri found the time to visit her friend, Gwen, every day and take her favourite meals so that Gwen would not feel lonely. Pri did this for many years until Gwen passed away. Pri is also a volunteer and friend to many at the Red Cross, WA Cancer Council, Starlight Foundation, WA African Community and Women of the West. In addition to this Pri has also recently joined the Riverview Community Visitors Scheme to visit people in nursing homes.
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Patricia Lavater
Patricia Lavater is the Founder/Director of The Esther Foundation in Perth. Patricia has been working with youth in Perth for nearly 30 years and for the past decade has been at the helm of Esther which operates seven program/crisis houses for young women. The program at Esther has been designed and coordinated by Patricia and has assisted hundreds of young women's lives broken by drug addiction, domestic violence, sexual abuse and depression. The program accommodates up to 30 young women (and their children) at any one time, offering support and assistance for the recovery process to take place in their lives. Patricia is extremely committed and selfless in her work to support and mentor young women. Her tireless efforts are seen on any Sunday when, if ever spotted, she is tending to someone's needs by phone or rushing to attend to a crisis of a family or an individual seeking support or help.
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Thomas (Olly) Pickett
Olly has dedicated his life to contributing to our society. From 1960 - 1989 Olly taught Manual Arts in Primary and Secondary Schools. From 1989 - 1999 Olly gave purpose to young people at risk through "Olly's Workshop" in Wangara where he taught young kids how to weld and do general metalwork. From 1998 - 2006 Olly has organised a number of volunteers in a project called "Wheelchairs for Kids". Olly and his team of volunteers (who mostly consist of ex-students) make wheelchairs, which they give away, free, to crippled children in developing countries. All financing is by donation and the money is used solely for materials to manufacture the wheelchairs. Olly's wheelchairs dramatically change the lives of the recipients who are often without education and as a consequence have little hope of ever gaining a job. As well as mobility, Olly's wheelchairs lift the children's spirits and independence and give them dignity. Olly's tireless efforts and cheery good spirits have resulted in around 8000 wheelchairs being given away in over 50 countries.
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Holly Chisholm
In 2005, Marisa Chisholm and her three small children had a serious car accident. The accident occurred on a gravel road at night, with Marisa's car hitting a tree and rolling over, landing upside down. On this day, 7 year old Holly Chisholm showed her mature judgment in rescuing her family from this horrific car crash. Holly managed to get herself out of her seatbelt and then freed her mother who was drifting in and out of consciousness. Holly decided to run to her grandparent's house which she thought wasn't far from the scene of the accident. Disorientated, and in total darkness, Holly ran about 3 kms and then realised that it was at least another 4 kms to get to her grandparent's house. Holly ran back to the scene of the accident where she found her mother had tried to crawl back into the car to get her trapped baby brother. Due to her injuries, Holly's mother did not have the strength to get him out of his seat. Holly managed to free her brother and miraculously saw her mother's ringing mobile. It was Holly's Dad! Holly was able to tell him what had happened and maturely told him that they urgently needed an ambulance. It was Holly's quick thinking and maturity that saved her family on that day.
