Your Westfield Local Heroes
always rewarding to know that the person you are talking to is hearing , if you know what I mean .”
“ I ’ m sorry , did you say something ,” I replied ( just kidding ).
Despite his workload at school and mentoring role with Rap 4 Change , Solomone , who is of Tongan heritage , still finds time by currently helping develop a 10- week Pacific Islanders mentoring leadership group .
Folks , it was an absolute pleasure for your writer to meet with Ned and Free , who brought along her children to be included in the accompanying photograph .
Intelligent , cheerful and with a fervent love for his fellow man , Solomone gives you hope for human kind .
Solomone and his older brother , Sione , have done their parents , mum Lesley and his late father , Filisione , who sadly passed in 2014 , proud .
Sione works for Pacific Health and Wellness which is a registered provider of National Disability Insurance Scheme services for those with disabilities .
I asked Solomone , who had already rapped out his little rap song , if he had any other interests . “ I love rap of course but all types of music appeal to me – rock ‘ n ’ roll , rhythm and blues , country and hip hop ,” Solomone said .
“ And I ’ m a true-blue , oneeyed South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter !
“ Rap 4 Change has also created two sporting clubs in 2018 to compete in local competitions – the Mount Druitt Lions Junior Rugby League Club and Mount Druitt Lions Baseball Club .
“ I love rugby league but I prefer to watch than play the game but I am into baseball !”
Ned Narouz gave a raucous laugh and said : “ is he ever !”.
“ When he connects bat to ball , the ball doesn ’ t want to return to the game ,” Ned laughed again .
As well as smacking home runs on a baseball field , Solomone Fotu is doing the same in life .
King of the kids ! Solomone holding court with yet more admirers , Free Isaia ’ s children ( l-r ): Natania , Jonis , Dasheena , Tai and Michael . by Greg Martin
Solomone Fotu , who features in this month ’ s Blacktown ’ s Finest feature , has been named as one of the three Westfield Mt Druitt Local Heroes recipients of $ 10,000 grants to support their organisations , which all contribute immensely to improving the lot of our residents .
Six finalists were selected last August and after the Westfield Local Heroes judging panel ran their eagle eyes over the nominees , Solomone , Dr Faryal Zehra and Emma Smith were awarded the grants .
The other three very worthy finalists were Darryl Hamilton ( Mt Druitt Police Area Command ), Donalee Rose ( Hearing Australia ) and Jay Tobin ( Whitelion Youth Agency ).
Westfield distributes the award grants each year across Australia and New Zealand .
This year a total of 126 $ 10,000 grants – that ’ s a whopping $ 1.26 million – were awarded to worthy recipients .
Solomone ’ s receipt of a Local Heroes grant makes it a trifecta in as many years for Rap 4 Change – the organisation ’ s CEO , Ned Narouz , scored the first grant followed the next year by his cherished “ 2IC ”, Free Isaia .
Solomone has shown many at-risk young people how they can build a positive future through his volunteer work with Rap 4 Change .
Despite a full workload as a university student , Emma Smith still finds time to serve the community through her work with the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency . She is one of three Westfield Mt Druitt Local Heroes to receive $ 10,000 grants .
Emma Smith has smoothed the path for countless schoolaged immigrants in her five years with the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency .
The busy full-time university student finds time to volunteer with the non-profit ’ s youth mentoring program for disadvantaged high school students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are at risk of dropping out .
The students are matched with mentors who help them build their skills and confidence and reinforce the importance of education for a bright future .
Dr Faryal Zehra has recruited an army of enthusiastic children to bring kindness to the community through her non-profit Little Helpers on the Run .
The children have completed over 4,000 kindness projects , which improve the physical and mental well-being of the elderly , isolated , homeless and children and families in need .
The children volunteers also improve their own physical , mental and emotional wellbeing .
Dr Zehra has organised and overseen hundreds of tea parties for the elderly to sustain their social connections and emotional well-being .
She has raised funds to provide regular healthy breakfasts to over 2,500 children at 16 low socio-economic schools .
Our congratulations and wholehearted thanks to all six worthy finalists .
ALL DAY HIRE JUMPING CASTLES
FROM AS LITTLE AS $ 180 !
Check out our website for the full range ! www . partytimecastles . com . au
0403 583 412
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 08 // NOVEMBER 2021 7