Sharon Leonard OAM

“All I ever wanted was to help people,” says Sharon Leonard OAM on learning she was to be awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.

“Being an involved member in my neighbourhood and the broader local community has allowed me and many others to help more people than we ever could have hoped for.” 

Motivated by the knowledge that we all have hard patches, she says life can be very lonely for everyone at times.  

“But we can all give a little time for someone who may need it, and we should.  I have made lifelong friends, been a part of cultural change within our community, and helped to build a bridge between the older and younger generation. What do I get from it? Respect, love and most of all I get to smile and help put a smile on someone else.” 

Ms Leonard says she feels honoured to be recognised through the Order of Australia. "I help people because I want to, I never really needed recognition, but in saying that, I feel honoured and privileged to be regarded as a nominee.” 

“There are so many people living and passed who I could thank, and I do most days. They know who they are.” 

"I would like to thank the people who nominated me, they're very kind, and my family, friends, and the community of Ravenswood.” 

“But most of all I want to thank everybody out there who stops to listen to somebody, the people who smile at you and the thousands of people who volunteer their time to help those who might need it. There are a lot of us out there."