Recognition Where It’s Truly Deserved
By Zoe Waters, Executive Director, Barwon Health Foundation
In communities like ours, legacy doesn’t arrive in a single defining moment. It accumulates. It shows up in meetings attended, hands raised to help, hours given without fanfare, and a willingness to keep contributing long after the applause has faded.
Over time, those small, consistent actions leave a mark.
That is why the recent Australia Day Honours resonated so strongly with me. Our Foundation’s very own Roxie Bennett OAM and Libby Bate OAM were recognised not for one standout achievement, but for years - indeed decades - of sustained contribution to their community.
Roxie has supported countless charities and causes over many years. She was honoured for her service to the Geelong community, including her work as a radio presenter with K Rock and as a Director of the Barwon Health Foundation Board, alongside her involvement with many other not-for-profit organisations. We affectionately refer to Roxie as the “5,000-hour volunteer” a figure that captures just a snapshot of the time she has given in recent years alone. Having experienced the care of Barwon Health herself as a patient, Roxie is a fierce and deeply personal advocate, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of the Barwon Health Foundation Board.
Libby’s recognition reflects a different, but equally powerful, legacy. She was honoured for her service to the Lara community and for her leadership as President of Geelong’s Cancer After Care Group. Through tireless advocacy and commitment, Libby has helped raise an extraordinary $4 million for Barwon Health’s Andrew Love Cancer Centre. That figure represents thousands of hours of volunteer effort - and because of Libby and her fellow volunteers, countless local people have been able to access vital cancer care close to home.
Both Libby and Roxie demonstrate that legacy is built by applying your skills, influence, time and energy where they can make the greatest difference. They share a deep commitment to the prosperity and wellbeing of our region, and they have given long enough to see real, lasting change.
At the Barwon Health Foundation, we are surrounded by people like this - people who put their hand up, and out, to support others. People who don’t wait to be asked. People who understand that community is something you actively build, together.
They know their part contributes to something bigger: leaving Geelong and the Barwon region better than they found it.
These honours are a powerful reminder of the calibre of people who shape our community every day. We could not be prouder of Roxie and Libby, and we also acknowledge the recognition of other outstanding contributors this year, including Barry Fagg OAM and Michael Betts AM. Their collective service is a reminder that Geelong’s strength has always been, and will continue to be, its people.
