Dear friends and supporters,

 

I wanted to share a brief update on where Surf Coast Heroes is at. The project is very much alive and growing — but our exhibition and book launch have been temporarily paused while I continue to secure the funding needed for printing, framing, and venue costs.

 

This isn’t a setback, just a short pause. The response to the call for nominations has been incredible, and every story shared reminds me why this project matters so deeply. I’m now focusing on securing the support needed to bring these portraits and stories to life in early 2026.

 

I’ll keep applying for grants and reaching out to potential partners, and I remain optimistic that new opportunities will emerge soon. If your organisation — or someone you know — might like to support or collaborate with Surf Coast Heroes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

Together, we’ll make sure these stories are told and celebrated the way they deserve to be.

 

With gratitude,
Brett Dorron
Founder & Photographer
Heroes Journey – Surf Coast Heroes

Nominations closed Sunday 31st August 2025. 

Nominees - 2025 Volunteer organisations / Volunteer roles Surf Coast region Reasons for nomination Person nominating

Colleen Trewhella

 Winchelsea Community House / Secretary, admin volunteer Winchelsea Over the last year or two, Colleen has put in many many hours to overhaul several important areas of documentation - including policies & procedures, a task that has been... Read more Tony Phelps

Don Smith

 Wurdale CFA Brigade, Winchelsea Lions Club, Hesse Rural Health, parkrun & more / Deputy Group Officer (CFA), past Lions President, bus driver, many others Winchelsea Don is one of those volunteers that is the backbone of the Winchelsea community, and pops up over and over again. From driving a community bus, to dishing out snags at the... Read more Tony Phelps

Kevin McNamara

 Feed Me Surf Coast / Food Rescue, Warehouse Supervisor Torquay Outstanding service to Feed me. An extremely valuable and indispensable tireless worker. Keri Jones

Rhani Bayon

 Winchelsea Community House / Events Manager Winchelsea Rhani has been in this role for the last 12 months and has completely transformed our local shire hall. Introducing programs, opening the doors for opportunities for connection... Read more... Danni Menzies

Aly Boland

 Feed Me Surf Coast / Leader, organiser, catering superstar, and vital for our home and emergency deliveries Torquay Aly has been with Feed Me for many years. She is a tireless worker. She is there before any of us arrive and is there when the last of us leave. She never seems to tire and guides us all... Read more Heather Reid

Neil McInnes

 Parkrun, Winchelsea star and the repertory society / President Winchelsea Neil volunteers for a lot and in reality keeps a lot of services running in Winchelsea. Kristen Czerkiewicz

Jo Halley

 Wednesday Ocean Waders / Founder Torquay Jo (Joanna Halley) founded the ocean swimming/wading group I belong to (Wednesday Ocean Waders) in May 2021. I successfully nominated Jo for a Surfcoast Local Legend award... Read more Keri Jones

Graeme Stockton

 Surf Coast Energy Group / Initiator of new projects, stalwart of environmental care Anglesea Graeme has been active on the Surf Coast for many years. He's passionae about environmental protection and care. As an indigenous nursery owner and bush regenerator... Read more... Regina Gleeson

Peter Marshall

 Entire Surf Coast Community and All Aboard disABILITY Support Services / Volunteer and memory keeper Torquay For nearly 20 years, Peter Marshall has quietly documented the life of the Surf Coast community. Through his freelance role as casual photographer, week after week... Read more... Helen Cini

Jonathan Griffiths

 Torquay Surf Life Saving Club / Director of Lifesaving Torquay Contributed the most number of patrol and water safety hours out of the entire club by a large margin. Gained training qualifications in order to train other members from... Read more... Danny Phillips

Greg Parker

 Pencak Silat Torquay, plus a swimming group / Head coach and organiser Torquay Has volunteered his time and expertise for over 30 years at Torquay Silat Club and trained hundreds of people over that period and been more than a coach to many, by example... Read more... Graeme Taylor

Greg Parker

 Pencak Silat Torquay / Head coach and organiser Torquay He has run this group for over 30 years free of charge . Bali training trips . Local training camps . Venue organiser. Collects fees and keeps all the records of every event and past and present member etc etc ... Read more... Phil Robbins

Murray Middleton

 Torquay CFA / Captain Torquay Puts in a huge amount of time and also works as a Paramedic. John Monagle

Conn Mios

 Torquay Football Club / Conn is heavily involved in running the club on a volunteer basis Torquay I have known Conn over many years through the Torquay Golf Club. Apart from golf Conn is a volunteer at the Torquay Football Club. Conn is involved in numerous tasks at the footy... Read more... Aldo Faella

Carl Rayner

 Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna) / Volunteer Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Carl has been involved with environmental initiatives in Anglesea for many years. He has been a member of Angair since 1994. In 1995 Carl joined the Anglesea Coast Action (ACA), serving as Secretary... Read more Angair president Elizabeth Fenwick and committee

Peter and Christine Forster

 Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna) / Volunteers Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Christine and Peter Forster have made an extraordinary contribution to Angair.
Christine, as a committee of management member... Read more 		Angair president Elizabeth Fenwick and committee

Bill McKellar

 Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna) / Volunteers Anglesea and Aireys Inlet Bill McKellar OAM owned a holiday house in Anglesea during the 1950s but it was until 1997 that he and wife Jenny moved to their new house near Pt Addis. For more than twenty years Bill has contributed to the local community... Read more Angair president Elizabeth Fenwick and committee

Margo Davey

 Trinity Uniting Church Anglesea / Many, including food deliveries and donations to Grovedale Uniting for people in need in Surfcoast and Geelong Anglesea Goes out of her way to be helpful, coordinates food, toiletry etc donations for homeless etc in Surfcoast and Geelong via Grovedale Uniting. Always cheerful and friendly, despite the fairly recent loss... Read more Esther Anderson

Alanee Hearnshaw

 St Cuthbert’s Church Lorne / Pastor Lorne Alanee has been the lead pastor of St Cuthbert’s church in Lorne for 2.5 years now, bringing the church back to life from near extinction. Her life’s work has largely been dedicated towards youth, missions to Africa and raising foster children... Read more Dina Chester-Freeman

Margaret Russell

 Trinity Uniting Church Anglesea / Pastoral care for ill, bereaved etc. (part time minister) Anglesea A very caring, selfless person (previously has received an OAM for community service). Esther Anderson

Kalynda Schuliga

 Unfurl Doula / Organiser Surf Coast Kalynda is a quiet hero in our community, creating sacred and supportive spaces for women at every stage of their motherhood journey. From conception through to postpartum... Read more Olivia Spiller

Brooke Murphy

 Feed Me Surfcoast / Organiser Torquay She’s awesome! Always putting the community first. Kellie van Wijngaarden

Corrina Eccles

 Traditional Owner / Community engagement, Traditional Owner, cultural advisor Surf Coast Corrina has worked tirelessly for the past 20 years since I met her to ensure the community recognise the Traditional custodians of these lands in which we live. she is passionate and kind and creates incredible opportunities for schools... Read more Ferne Millen

Keri Jones

 Feed Me Surfcoast and Wednesday Ocean Waders / Food resuce at FMSC and mentor and inspiration with WOW Torquay Keri is one of the most incredible human beings I have ever met. She has a real love and thirst for life, for family and for community. She volunteers at Feed Me Surf Coast, and is a regular with the Wednesday Ocean Waders swim group... Read more Courtney Weybury

Liz McNamara

 Feed Me Surfcoast / Food rescue volunteer Torquay For me, it’s never just been about counting volunteer hours. It’s about showing up with honesty, working hard, and living out the values that the charity stands for. It’s about helping create a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued... Read more Mutale Chishimba

Megan Myers

 Feed Me Surfcoast / Food rescue volunteer and manages rescue roster Torquay Consistently managed the rescue roster for about 2 years. Mutale Chishimba

Larissa Sichivitsa

 Feed Me Surfcoast, Salvos OP shop, and Ukrainian Women's Society / Food rescue volunteer, sorting, customer service, fundraiser, support person, beautiful human Torquay Larissa is a ray of sunshine and dedicates her life here to the service of others. she is warm and kind and loving to everyone. she is full of hugs and encouragement and kind words. Larissa's life before coming to Australia... Read more Megan Myers

Peter Raidme

 Feed Me Surfcoast, Torquay Footy Club, Surf Coast High / Food rescue volunteer, organiser, mentor, support person Torquay I first met Pete during lockdowns when he was part of the wellbeing team at SCSC. My kids were struggling with disconnection and not going to school. Pete's remained with us since then, often outside of his official capacity... Read more Megan Myers

Aleisja Henry

 Greens, The Esplanade - Sublime Health Club, Surf Coast Environment Group, Surf Rider Foundation / Candidate, advocate, instructor, leader, organiser, coach, animal rescuer Torquay Aleisja is a passionate advocate for our environment and all the creatures that exist within it. She's an active greens community member and ran for our last local elections. She attends and participates in many community platforms... Read more Megan Myers

Hugh Champness

 CFA Aireys Inlet / Lieutenant & Training Officer Aireys Inlet Hugh is 70ys old and turns out to almost every incident we’re called out to, no matter what time of the day it is. Further to this, he is extremely passionate about training our new & old recruits. He is there at every meeting and every volunteer event ... Read more Megan Myers

Margaret MacDonald

 Friends of Eastern Otways, Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna) / Long time organiser, volunteer, author and editor Anglesea & Aireys Inlet Margaret is an environmental champion of the Surf Coast. She has played a leadership role in both Friends of Eastern Otways NP (FEO) and Angair over the last 35 years, a prolific contributor to local publications on the flora and fauna... Read more Rob Shepherd

Rod Brooks

 Angair (Anglesea, Aireys Inlet Society for the Protection of Flora and Fauna), Friends of Eastern Otways NP, Painkalac Valley Network / Provides key Web & IT support and environmental leadership Anglesea & Aireys Inlet Rod's contribution to Angair and the Friends of Eastern Otways NP public face via their web pages cannot be understated. He has been volunteering his services for over a decade and his significant contributions... Read more Rob Shepherd

Jacqui Lamont

 Aireys Inlet Rubbish Rangers / Instigator and organiser Aireys Inlet Jacqui is a guiding light in Rubbish Ranging. It all began here in Aireys Inlet 5 years ago and she has continued to support and represent us within and beyond the community. Celia Meehan

Jo Murray

 Grow Free / Initiator and Organiser Aireys Inlet Jo has been involved in a broad range of environmental actions which are inclusive and inspiring. The Grow Free stand is one of many ways she encourages and is involved in sharing her skill, knowledge and garden produce. Celia Meehan

Mary Bremner

 AIRAR (Aireys Inlet Rural Australians for Refugees) / Founding member and Coordinator for 10 years. Aireys Inlet Contribution to establishing this group, building community interest, membership and facilitating an extensive range of activities to build community awareness, raise money to support refugees in & from Australia, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Palestine, etc... Read more Rosita Vila

Danni Menzies

 Winchelsea Playgroup / Organiser Winchelsea Danni is a busy mother of two little girls one of which is special needs and has had an incredibly journey from womb into the world. Amidst adjusting to life with two children she took over the Winchelsea Playgroup and breathed new life... Read more Rhani Bayon

Barb Reyland

 Winchelsea Wildlife Rangers / Owner, organiser Winchelsea Barb runs the only Wildlife Shelter in our immediate area. In a semi-rural farming town there hasn't historically been many people who advocate and care for our wildlife. Barb is responsible for taking in, rehabilitating and releasing hundreds of orphaned and injured animals... Read more Rhani Bayon