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Matthew Parsons and Jenni Parsons from Blacktown Ward (congregation) of the Hebersham Stake (diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended a Blacktown Council Civic Reception where they received an Appreciation Award from the Council on behalf of the Hebersham Stake. The award was in recognition for the stake's support of the Lady Mayoress' Gift Appeal.
Members of the stake have supported the Blacktown Council Lady Mayoress’ Christmas Gift Appeal over a number of years (see previous article). The stake members collected toys from stake members which were then turned over to the Christmas Gift Appeal program for distribution. The toys collected were presented to the Mayor and State Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali, and Lady Mayoress, Mrs Anne Bali, at the Stake Christmas Carols program in 2018. The Mayor and Lady Mayoress were also presented with small gifts in recognition of their support and service to the community.
After the Blacktown Council Civic Reception, Jenni Parsons commented, “I feel truly blessed and honoured to have met with Colleen Willis, the 75 year-old Branch Secretary of the CWA (Country Women’s Association) and OAM (Order of Australia Medal & Upper Hunter’s Woman of the Year), who is a fiery, down-to-earth woman, with compassion and kindness ‘by the truck load.’ She is a force for good, especially for those families suffering on the land through natural disaster. Quirindi’s CWA ladies mobilised to fight the drought ‘from lipstick to stockfeed.’”
At the awards event, Lord Mayor Andrew Hope of Liverpool Plains Shire remarked, “In a shire with a population of only 8,000, we know each of the children by name. I don’t usually get emotional yet here I am tonight getting emotional over your love and concern, and your generosity from your community to ours. To see the children of our community smile as they received gifts from you all, and the relief on the faces of the parents of those children, that their little ones had a Christmas gift, was pure joy.”
President David Harper, Second Counsellor in the Hebersham Stake Presidency said that “Mayor and Mayoress Bali are great supporters of the Church, attending and speaking at many stake events over recent years. It is our privilege to support the Lady Mayoress’ Gift Appeal. We hope to continue to support the community as we work with the Council in worthwhile activities like the annual Lady Mayoress’ Gift Appeal”.