Moree’s Jess Duncan has been recognised for her dedication to the Moree community with a NSW Young Achiever nomination.
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Jess has been nominated for the Freemasons of NSW/ACT Community Service Award, one of six categories in the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards.
The Community Service Award applauds our unsung heroes, acknowledging those young people who are passionate in putting the needs of others first.
Jess said she was very surprised last week to find out she was nominated.
“I was really shocked, it was very unexpected,” Jess said. “I was very surprised.”
Jess is very passionate about Moree and is heavily involved in the community professionally and voluntarily. She is the Moree project manager for Beyond Empathy, a not-for-profit community arts and cultural development organisation which uses art to influence change in communities experiencing recurring hardship.
It’s very humbling that someone considered me of that calibre to be nominated.
- Jess Duncan
Jess is a board member of Pius X Aboriginal Coporation and a member of the Moree Reconciliation group.
She also assists Moree Aboriginal Employment Strategy and regularly volunteers at the Moree library to teach local children the Gamilaraay language during NAIDOC week.
Most recently, Jess founded Donate for Dignity, a charity which distributes toiletries to local charities who then pass on packs to their clients.
Jess was nominated by her friend and associate, Glen Crump who said she is an outstanding role model.
“Jess Duncan is a passionate, hardworking and community-minded individual who is dedicated to making a difference both locally in her community of Moree and on a wider basis,” he said in the nomination.
“Jess is a giving person who is heavily involved with her community who simply wants to give back.”
Jess is modest about her work and said she doesn’t do all she does for recognition.
“It is really humbling because there’s a lot of people that do amazing and inspiring work,” she said.
“I just like to help out wherever I can. It’s very humbling that someone considered me of that calibre to be nominated.”
Nominees for the awards will be judged on Wednesday, February 8 and finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner in Sydney on Friday, March 24.
Winners will receive $2,500 thanks to Masonicare and one of the six category winners will be chosen as the NSW/ACT Young Achiever of the Year and will win an additional $5,000.