In 2022, we celebrated CEO Gina Dougall’s 20th anniversary at Banksia Gardens Community Services. It’s been an incredible contribution to the community and the sector, duly noted in a speech by Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou in Federal Parliament in November.
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Full video transcript
On the theme of strong leaders, I want to acknowledge a noteworthy event that takes place tomorrow night, which is the celebration of 20 years of service by Gina Dougall, CEO of the Banksia Gardens Community Services. Banksia Gardens is a dynamic neighbourhood house located in Broadmeadows in the southern end of my electorate. Gina Dougall has been at the helm for almost as long as I have been the federal member for Calwell, so we’ve worked together for quite a significant period of time.
Gina is a powerhouse of a community leader—inspiring, encouraging, energetic and innovative. She has built an incredible team of people, and together they have transformed Banksia Gardens into one of the largest neighbourhood houses in Victoria, with a suite of award-winning programs that challenge poverty, injustice and disadvantage in a radical and effective way. These programs include the youth justice partnership; Project REAL; the Northern Centre for Excellence in School Engagement; Good People Act Now, a youth-led action for gender equity; Aiming High, which supports aspiring secondary school students; and Towards Equality 2020 & Beyond, supporting grassroots women’s groups.
Gina is one of the best known community activists within the city of Hume, contributing to numerous boards, committees and organisations as well as undertaking the incredible work she does leading Banksia Gardens. It is not common for someone to remain in such a challenging position in the community sector for so long, so I am absolutely delighted to congratulate Gina Dougall on her 20-year commitment to our community, which we both know and love and spend a lot of our working lives in. Congratulations Gina, and here’s to the next 20 years.
