22 April 2021
Published 19 August 2020
Moreton Bay Region is full of many selfless, wonderful individuals but perhaps none more so than Morayfield resident Rebecca Patterson.
The 40-year-old is this year’s regional recipient of the National Council of Women in Queensland (NCWQ) $1,000 bursary for her long list of community service work.
The annual NCWQ ceremony helps foster the next wave of community leaders and celebrate the achievements of female students across the country.
Mayor Flannery, who presented Ms Patterson with the award, said she had a resume of community work that was larger than most people’s lifetime of work.
“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,” Mr Flannery said.
“The NCWQ bursary is a great kickstart to the careers of so many amazing women in Moreton Bay Region, and in this case it will kickstart a career change for Rebecca.
“She began her philanthropic commitments as an executive committee member of Caboolture Little Athletics, which she held for seven years.
“Rebecca has been a regular helper for junior rugby league at Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast, she was responsible for a campaign that supported a local mum who had suffered a spinal stroke, and most recently helped out at the Moodlu Districts Mens Shed.
“Rebecca herself is a single mum who has also helped raised two foster children while working full-time in sales.
“She’s now decided to take a small step back and go study at the new University of the Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay campus, which is great to hear.
“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.”
Ms Patterson received the award at a small ceremony at Council’s Caboolture offices on Wednesday August 19.
She said it was a great honour to be recognised and to join a group of highly esteemed women to have received the bursary before her.
“You don’t volunteer your time in hopes to one day receive awards or praise, but it is very humbling to be recognised by both NCWQ and Moreton Bay Regional Council,” Ms Patterson said.
“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.
“This bursary will go a long way to assisting my Bachelor of Social Science studies, which I hope to use to transition into youth and child safety services.
“I would also like to acknowledge the amazing Karen Wolfenden, who recently passed away. Her selflessness and tenacity is the reason myself and so many others first began volunteering in the community and she will forever remain one of my biggest inspirations.”
Moreton Bay Regional Council has proudly supported the NCWQ bursary program since 2014. This is just one of 40 NCWQ bursaries on offer across Queensland.