Dubbo student wins Fred Hollows award
THE compassionate and kind nature of Dubbo South Public School student Mali Hopkins-davies has been recognised at a ceremony at Parliament House in Sydney this week.
Mali received the Fred Hollows Humanity Award after being nominated by her teacher.
Following the loss of a little brother to SIDS, Mali and her family have become very active in the local community raising funds and awareness of SIDS.
In August last year, she wrote an article for Dubbo Photo News about her experience. Mali’s very open and honest column began with these words: “Two years ago my world changed; I lost my brother Riley to SIDS. It was the hardest time of my life, something I was never prepared for.”
Her teacher at Dubbo South, Lisa Lunn, said this sort of maturity was one of the reasons she nominated Mali.
“Mali has organised fundraisers, written newspaper articles and spearheaded our school’s Red Nose Day activities with passion and drive,” Mrs Lunn said.
“She’s an amazingly driven and mature student; she’s shown integrity, passion and drive in a manner that is beyond her years.”
Mali was one of 79 students from across the state to be presented with the award which is a national initiative of The Fred Hollows Foundation, and acknowledges Year 6 students who are following in the famous eye surgeon’s footsteps by demonstrating humanitarian values towards others.