A Toowoomba woman who founded the region’s only women’s support centre is among the winners of the 2024 Alison Woolla Memorial Award which recognises local leadership in the fight against domestic and family violence (DFV) in Queensland.
Amanda Dalton, the CEO of Protea Place, won the Community Category of the award sponsored by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).
Her achievement was announced at the LGAQ Annual Conference along with the joint winners of the award’s Council Category - Cr Sha-lane Gibson, of Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, and Cr Tony Latter, of City of Moreton Bay.
The annual Alison Woolla Memorial Award celebrates the incredible legacy of the former Aurukun Mayor who dedicated her life to making a difference in her community by addressing DFV and protecting people affected by it.
This year’s award attracted 12 nominations over the two categories.
As the winner of the Community Category, Amanda Dalton also receives a $5000 bursary to be used to continue her work in preventing and raising awareness of DFV.
Since launching Protea Place five years ago, Amanda has facilitated the support of more than 13,000 women in the Toowoomba region. The centre provides practical aid to women affected by DFV, homelessness and disadvantage, providing hot meals, showers and home setups through its "Welcome Home" project.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the social welfare sector, Amanda has been a strong advocate of DFV awareness, working tirelessly to bring about change at the local, national and global level.
The Council Category of the Alison Woolla Award recognises leadership by local government elected members and officers in the prevention of DFV.
Joint winner of the Council Category, Cr Sha-lane Gibson, has made outstanding contributions towards the prevention of DFV and improving outcomes for her First Nations community of Hope Vale, located northwest of Cooktown on the Cape York Peninsula.
A Bond University graduate and former Queensland Youth Parliament member, Cr Gibson has worked with the Hope Vale Opportunities Hub and the Cooktown District Community Centre, focusing on empowering families and providing culturally sensitive DFV services.
As a Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire councillor, she has also been instrumental in helping to develop a local DFV Strategy and Action Plan to ensure the safety and well-being of her community’s men, women and elders.
Council Category co-winner Cr Tony Latter’s leadership and dedication to DFV prevention has had a significant impact in the Moreton Bay area.
He is also president of the Centre Against Domestic Abuse – a not-for-profit organisation supporting more than 20,000 clients annually which has become an established community leader in preventing and responding to DFV in Moreton Bay.
Tony also founded the “Red Ride – Ride Against Domestic Abuse,” an annual charity event which raises funds and awareness for DFV prevention.
His efforts have also led to the inclusion of DFV prevention in City of Moreton Bay’s strategic plan, ensuring a long-term commitment to this critical community issue.
For more information, please contact:
Dan Knowles, Media Advisor