Published on Thursday, 10 January 2019 at 8:54:22 AM
Award-winning social justice advocate Fadzi Whande will travel to Geraldton and Mullewa this month as the official Australia Day 2019 Ambassador.
Over the course of her career Ms Whande has received both international and local recognition for her efforts to champion inclusion and diversity and her hard work was rewarded by being a finalist in the 2018 Western Australian of the Year Award.
But the accolades don’t stop there, having also received the 2016 International Racial Equity Leadership Award in the USA and being a finalist in the Australian Human Rights – ‘Racism it Stops With Me’ Award.
City of Greater Geraldton Deputy Mayor Neil McIlwaine said it was a delight to have someone so inspirational be named the Australia Day Ambassador for Geraldton and Mullewa.
“Fadzi has an impressive list of accolades in the social justice space, which demonstrates just how passionate she is about inclusion, diversity and equality,” he said.
“Australia Day is about coming together and celebrating our cultural diversities and it’s fitting to have Fadzi here helping us deliver that important message.”
As the Ambassador, Ms Whande will officially open the Champion Bay Surf Lifesaving Club Open Water Swim Challenge, visit Mullewa for the Australia Day WA Active Community Citizen of the Year Awards, deliver the official Australia Day Address and present certificates at the Citizenship Ceremony in Geraldton.
Ms Whande said she was looking forward to visiting Geraldton and Mullewa for the first time.
“I’m really looking forward to being involved in Geraldton and Mullewa’s Australia Day celebrations this year and creating more awareness around diversity, respect and cultural differences,” she said.
“We’re so much stronger together because we all have our individual stories, qualities and gifts that bring a uniqueness that strengthens our community.
“We need to focus on those positive differences because if we were all the same, looked the same and acted the same, the world would be a pretty boring place.”
The Australia Day Ambassador program is brought to the City of Greater Geraldton by the Australia Day Council.
For more information about Australia Day celebrations, please visit www.cgg.wa.gov.au
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