Oh people, what I am going to write happened four days
ago, 12 November 2015, but it’s like it happened last night, and I am still so
excited!!! Yes, you read the title right: he won! Before you read any further I want
to say that we are totally thrilled about this win. Not just because It was
Grant who won (and very deservedly so!!!), but because he was the only finalist who
works hands on in the field with the homeless. With making Grant the winner of a nation-wide awards
event it really seems that people have opened their hearts to the homeless and
to helping the homeless, and this is wonderful news. Going to post some photos here and I do have to apologize, I still have to figure out how to get the flash on my phone to work...
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| Already one happy chappy, before the winners were announced :-) |
Of course you all know by now what amazing works Grant
does helping the homeless and others in need, and it is a huge honour for me to
work beside him. Grant helps in more ways than people know, and he has been doing
this for years, ever since he got himself back together a bit while being
homeless after he got discharged from the hospital with a back brace and a
walking frame. Not only has he been doing heaps for others, he also encouraged and
inspired many who were better off to do their bit for the disadvantaged as
well, and so he has a lot to do with much of the good stuff that is happening around
here. Grant has come so far, from being on a successful career path, to getting horrifically injured, to becoming homeless, to helping other homeless get on their feet and do it himself too, and after all that still continuing to help the homeless and others in need, and now the Community Leader Award 2015... I don't know about you, but I am in awe...
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| Would have loved to post a photo here from Grant helping, but we try to keep the helping discreet and don't take photos of it. So, here's a photo of the Awards night |
And on 12 November, people, all his passion to help the
homeless and others in need has been officially acknowledged. Of course,
acknowledgement comes first and foremost from the people he helps. Seeing them
turn their lives around, seeing them walk straighter and talk more confidently
are all confirmations that what he is doing is awesome and important and
changes the world for at least the people he helps. Great formal
acknowledgement though came quite a few weeks ago, when Grant received an email
saying that he had been nominated for The Catholic Leader’s “Community Leader
Awards 2015”, and that he was one of the semi-finalists. Great cheer, great fun, very joyous, because
it is of course a huge honour to be nominated for such an amazing sounding
award. Being one of the semi-finalists made it even more exciting. We were just
about dancing and singing that day, we were THAT excited! And because Grant was
a semi-finalist, he was invited to a cocktail party where the winner would be
announced. He invited me to come along, and of course for the ladies the issue
always is and always will be “What am I going to wear!” Although I do like a
cocktail I am not really a frequent cocktail party goer, but once there my
choice didn’t seem too bad, haha.
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| I think we're both pulling off the cocktail party style quite OK, haha |
Some time before the cocktail party Grant was told he had
progressed to the finals and was asked to record a video clip, which he of
course did, talking with great passion about what he does and how he sees the
community come together. We had a lovely night at the Francis Rush Centre, on
the grounds of the beautiful St Stephen’s Cathedral. They had the red carpet
spread out for us WOOHOO, they looked after us very, very well with yummy finger
foods and drinks, there was excellent live music, and we were in the company of around 200
truly amazing people. It was a bit nerve wrecking; of course, when you are a
finalist, having by-passed so many others nation-wide and being so close to
winning, winning is what you hope for.
And then the prizes were announced. Grant’s category was
the last one, “Community Leader of the Year”. When he was announced as the
winner, my right arm went straight up in the air, the left one holding my phone
for photos haha. I was so happy and so was he. I think we both - and many with us - grinned from ear
to ear. He did a spontaneous speech that everyone loved – they were all talking
about how genuine it was. Sorry, I don’t remember a lot of what he said because
I was so excited and taking shaky pictures haha, sorry. But everyone else just
loved what he said and how he said it. He got lots of handshakes and
congratulations. It was a great night. Apart from an awesome certificate,
rolled up with a beautiful ribbon around it, he received an original framed painting
with a little plaque “The Catholic Leader – Community Leader of the Year 2015”.
Just beautiful.
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| The winner, in front of the screen with the three finalists on it. |
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| How happy is he, painting in one hand, certificate in the other :-) |
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| Archbishop Mark Coleridge congratulating Grant. |
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| Grant and the beautiful painting he won |
Like I said at the start, this award means a lot, not
just to Grant but also to me. Not just because he won it (which is truly
awesome), but because it was awarded for helping our fellow men, women and
children in need. It shows that people notice “heart”, they are open to people who
put into action that saying “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”,
they acknowledge helping those in need as something that is crucial in our community. I
hope this also means that people who have in any way been involved in and inspired by the choice of
winner will go out in the field more, and with their actions help those in need
more, give more, and see more.
Everyone has a story, and once you hear it, it
changes everything… Grant's is one of overcoming adversity, more than once... A trooper, all the way!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, GRANT THE POLITE GUY!!!
Written by Bernie the Polite Girl for The Polite Team.
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