An inspiring volunteer and leader who supports women from the Far North’s many multicultural communities has been named the 2022 Cairns Woman of the Year.
Kesa Strieby, long-time volunteer president of the Cairns and Region Multicultural Association (CARMA) and champion of vulnerable people, was presented with the award at today’s International Women’s Day Breakfast at the Hilton Cairns.
The awards breakfast included a keynote speech by Sharon Dawson, director of the Dawsons Group and deputy chair of Racing Queensland, and a special appearance by Australian Winter Olympian Breeana Walker.
‘Bobsled Bree’, who finished fifth in the women’s monobob at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, was a surprise guest and participated in a Q&A session.
Ms Strieby was named 2022 Cairns Woman of the Year in recognition of her leadership, commitment and passion for the wellbeing of the community.
As an Assistant with Care and Housing at OzCare, Ms Strieby spends her working life helping disadvantaged people to find support and accommodation; outside work, Ms Streiby mentors women, young and old, and helps new arrivals to Cairns maintain connections with their culture whilst settling into and contributing to their new community.
Mayoress Claire Manning described Ms Streiby as someone who takes on challenges, encourages and supports women from more than 50 cultural groups to realise their own potential, and promotes gender equality through her actions.
“Kesa humbly yet boldly takes on challenges, heading up a large not-for-profit organisation that supports and celebrates the many diverse cultural groups in Cairns,” Mrs Manning said.
“She is widely respected and is ‘breaking the bias’, leading by example, and providing opportunities for women to step up and step out of traditional stereotypes while sharing their talents and skills.”
“Within CARMA, Kesa not only facilitates and attends community events, but also works closely to mentor community groups and individuals, encouraging them to engage with the local communities, often despite great hurdles. There is great respect held for Kesa in our many and varied communities of Cairns.”
As well as her involvement with CARMA, Ms Strieby is known for going above and beyond to assist vulnerable, homeless and elderly people who are facing accommodation stress or are at risk of becoming homeless.
Cairns Young Woman of the Year is Jess Fatnowna, a proud Indigenous woman with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultural heritage, who helps vulnerable young people find strength and opportunity through sport.
Ms Fatnowna, as part of Cairns Hockey’s Aspire to be Deadly program, has many roles including guardian and mentor to vulnerable young girls, driving the Aspire Me mentoring program in four high schools, supervising a Healthy Choices eating program and supporting reconciliation through the reconciliation action plan process.
Ms Fatnowna has created programs that include dance, physical activity, team building and cultural support with over 30 young people per week attending the Aspire Community Hub and Yarning Place at Cairns Hockey. She is also a leader and mentor in programs involving more than 2000 participants a year from Torres Strait Island/Cape York and Gulf Savannah regions
Mrs Manning said Ms Fatnowna is inspiring and empowering young girls to realise their potential through sport and other activities.
“Ms Fatnowna has sadly experienced discrimination herself, and has dedicated her life to breaking bias and stereotypes on many levels with a level of empathy, strength and determination beyond her years,” Mrs Manning said.
“Jess is committed to driving positive social change, driven by the mantra to ‘live well, learn well and lead well’. She is realising her vision to create safe learning spaces where engagement is nurtured, and self-worth and self-belief can grow.”
Council’s International Women’s Day Scholarship was awarded to former Cairns Netball president Kym McPhee-Smith, a dedicated volunteer who is seeking to advance her coaching qualifications to support the development of netball in Cairns.
Ms Smith was a driving force behind a campaign to fund the $3.8 million netball facility at Martyn Street. The scholarship will fund her participation in Advanced Coaching Practice Workshops, enabling her to further grow the sport and support new coaches at Cairns Netball to attain their own accreditations.
Award recipients
WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Kesa Strieby
Kesa has been President of the Cairns and Region Multicultural Association since 2007. As an Assistant with Care and Housing at OzCare, Ms Strieby spends her working life helping disadvantaged people to find support and accommodation; outside work, Ms Streiby mentors women, young and old, and helps new arrivals to Cairns retain links to their culture whilst embracing their new home. Ms Strieby is known for her selfless determination and humanity in helping people to find their place.
YOUNG WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Jess Fatnowna
Through the Aspire to be Deadly program, Jess Fatnowna, has mentored, trained, and supported thousands of girls across Cairns, Cape York and the Pacific, helping them to gain confidence and create opportunity through sport and healthy activity Her efforts to break bias and discrimination include running mentoring programs in four high schools, creating programs that engage young girls in activities and hockey and the ‘Hook in 4 Health’ program in Pacific Island communities.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT – Kym McPhee-Smith
Kym McPhee Smith has been an integral part of the netball community for more than a decade, starting out as a volunteer and later serving as both Operations Manager and Club President. Determined to implement change and grow the game, she was a driving force behind securing funding for the $3.8 million netball facility at Martyn Street. The scholarship will fund her participation in Advanced Coaching Practice Workshops, enabling Kym to further support new coaches at Cairns Netball to attain their own accreditations.
