AN advocate for cleaning up our coastlines and a “Mother Teresa” for those in need have been crowned Choose Respect Champions.
At a presentation on Friday Carmen Kowal and Glenys Osborn were honoured for their “exemplary displays of respect” by Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan, John Castrilli MLA and Choose Respect chairman Peter Rigden.
In presenting the women with medals, Mr Rigden said that their selfless support of the Bunbury community needed recognition.
“These two women haven’t sought accolades, instead they’ve quietly volunteered their time to improve the lives of others,” Mr Ridgan said.
Carmen Kowal was pivotal in establishing Responsible Runners Bunbury, who meet regularly to collect rubbish along the Hungry Hollow Beach shoreline.
"Sometimes it is as simple as driving someone somewhere or taking out their rubbish, you just need to be there for them"
- Choose Respect champion Glenys Osborn.
Mrs Kowal told the Bunbury Mail that the motivation behind setting up the group came about after finding a build up of rubbish along beaches in the area.
“I thought ‘someone has to step in and do something’ and I just put the word out from there,” Mrs Kowal said.
She said the Choose Respect message fit with her own.
“I guess it is care and consideration and having thought and consequences about your actions,” Mrs Kowal said.
Care and consideration also rings true for Glenys Osborn’s work.
Caring for others from a young age, Mrs Osborn said she had lived under the ethos “for humanity.”
“From looking after my grandmother as a young girl, to nursing and what I’m doing now I’ve always managed to have someone under my wing,” Mrs Osborn said.
She now cares for her son and the needy in disability units on Strickland Street.
“Sometimes it is as simple as driving someone somewhere or taking out their rubbish, you just need to be there for them,” Mrs Osborn said.
To nominate someone as a community champion visit the Choose Respect Bunbury Facebook page or contact facilitator Sarah-Jane Smith on 0409 167 804.