Blayney local Gwenda Stanbridge has been named Bathurst Electorate’s 2023 NSW Local Woman of the Year.
The Local Women of the Year Award program recognises one woman from every electorate in NSW. Selected by their local Member of Parliament, these women are outstanding members of their local communities.
In 1975 Gwenda was posted as a high school music teacher to Blayney where she has stayed for over 48 years. Wanting to make a positive impact to the community she had just moved to Gwenda first joined Blayney Uniting Church and has been an active volunteer there ever since. She also helped run the Combined High School Choir. Whilst her sons were at school Gwenda was part of the high school P&C and ran the canteen for the soccer club on the weekend.
Gwenda is passionate about Blayney and its rich history. She works tirelessly on community projects within Blayney Shire helping Council, local businesses and interested parties research the history of local buildings and families in the region.
Gwenda was one of the volunteers involved from the early planning stages of the Platform Arts Hub project that resulted in the old Refreshment Rooms at the Blayney railway station being fully refurbished and the Platform Arts Hub opening in April 2021 as an arts and cultural community venue.
Deputy Premier and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said Gwenda Stanbridge is a worthy recipient of the Bathurst Electorate Woman of the Year for 2023.
“Our communities are only as successful as the community groups that underpin the services and support we need. But it takes passionate and active volunteers like Gwenda to keep these groups going and bring new life to projects like the Platform Arts Hub,” Mr Toole said.
“Thank you Gwenda for all you do for the Blayney community.”
The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program which recognises and celebrates the support women give to their local communities throughout NSW.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor congratulated all of the Local Women of the Year Award recipients.
“These women are the backbone of their communities, volunteering their time and energy to make a positive difference,” Mrs Taylor said.
“I would like to acknowledge their significant efforts to support their local communities and thank them for all the work they do.”
The Local Woman of the Year Awards are a way the NSW Government celebrates the achievements of women as part of International Women’s Day on March 8.
The NSW Women of the Year Awards will be held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on March 9, 2023.