Celebrating our constellation of stars

The Southern Stars Awards winners for 2024 were announced at the annual Awards ceremony on 7 November.

The Awards recognise our staff and volunteers who go above and beyond to be the difference in the lives of members of our community, including many Length of Service award recipients and Southern Stars Awards winners across eight categories (some categories with more than one winner).

The 2024 Southern Stars Awards winners are:

• Service Star: Darshna Patel, Home Care Assistant, Home Care East and Chanel Saldua, Wellness and Lifestyle Coordinator, John Paul II Residential Care

• Courage Star: Jennifer Dent, Personal Carer, Bellevue Court Residential Care

• Compassion Star: Ashok Mahote, Personal Carer, Oaklands Park Lodge Residential Care and Ashalatha Pernaje, Personal Carer, Bucklands Residential Care

• Leadership Star: Irene Urbanski, Residential Services Manager, Mount Carmel Residential Care

• Brendan Bowler Cup: The Pines Lodge Residential Care

• Healthy Ageing Star: Laura Falland, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Health & Fitness Darwin

• Carol Day Memorial Award (Volunteer Star): Julie Mathews, Oaklands Park Lodge Residential Care

• Rising Star: Annette Annandale-James, Team Leader Connecting Services, Peter Taylor House and Helen Lawton-French, Retirement Living Manager, Glen Woodley Estate

A special Length of Service Award recognised Maintenance Officer John Randle for 40 years of dedicated service.

While volunteer Carmel Windebank was celebrated for her amazing 45 years of service in pastoral care for the residents of The Pines Lodge and Bucklands Residential Care.

Southern Cross Care CEO David Moran thanked all our staff and volunteers for being the difference in the lives of our residents and clients.

“Congratulations again to all nominees, finalists and winners,” David said.

“I am so proud of each and every one of you, and the effort you put in to be the difference each and every day for our clients, residents and community.”

In honour of the late Carol Day, who gave 10 years of service to Southern Cross Care before suddenly passing away in 2018, the Volunteer Star Award was given a new name - The Carol Day Memorial Award.

Carol was a passionate advocate for the difference that volunteers make in our community, and was the driving force behind the establishment of our volunteer-driven Care Car service that is still growing and thriving today.

The Brendan Bowler Cup was also presented to an outstanding team in honour of the late Brendan Bowler AM, who was chair of the Southern Cross Care Board for 23 years and was proud of how our staff work together to be the difference in our community.

For a full list of this year's finalists, click here.