Kerriann Dunn is driven by compassion and a need for change.
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The Windermere Park resident was recently named Lake Macquarie's Citizen of the Year and is involved in several community groups in the area that are providing everything from drug and alcohol education, to affordable food and free haircuts.
Ms Dunn's longest commitment, however, has been to the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, of which she is currently vice president.
Ms Dunn says that when she joined 15 years ago she wanted to ensure her children accessed learning opportunities she never had.
We were all brought up, my husband and myself, to not talk about being Aboriginal, Ms Dunn said.
Our parents just wanted to keep it quiet, saying we dont want people to know, which happened a lot back then.
I wanted my kids to be proud for who they are and where they come from," she said.
The group runs activities and offers advice to schools from Wyee to Wangi Wangi.
At Morisset High School, where Ms Dunn also serves as the president of the P&C, the AECG has established a bush tucker garden, learning circle and a junior AECG group for students.
Its programs involve Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and most importantly, Ms Dunn says, teachers.
We have Connecting to Country. Its a program that is for the teachers.
"Its a three-day program and one day you go off site to do a smoking ceremony and hear the stories of that area, basically to connect them to this area.
Weve got to teach them [the teachers] otherwise they cant teach our kids," Ms Dunn said.
Another voluntary activity close to the Hunter Water Hunter Hero nominee's heart is serving as chairperson of Southlake Marketplace, a food bank that operates in Cooranbong, Lake Munmorah, Wangi Wangi and Gwandalan.
Ms Dunn got involved after attending the Cooranbong branch five years ago.
As we all do, we go through a stage that you cant afford bills. Youre on hard street, she said.
After hearing the outlet's manager was taking a six-week break, Ms Dunn offered to keep the food bank going while she was away.
That was five years ago and I have been there ever since, Ms Dunn said.
The mother-of-four also serves as vice president of Bonnells Bay Public School's P&C, chairperson of the Community Drug Action Team and chairperson of the Community Hair Project, both in Cooranbong, while also working part-time.
Her reason is simple.
I just want to give back to the community," she said.
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