Cheryl Hyde was honoured to be nominated for an award in the recent Awards for Women in Local Government – but she didn’t expect to win.
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The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government celebrate the contribution of women to local government in NSW.
The Wallarobba resident has been employed as the senior finance office at Dungog Council for 15 years and was nominated in the non-senior staff member category at a rural or regional council.
Cheryl was nominated by general manager Craig Deasey who said she has been active in encouraging other female staff members to make local government a career choice by encouraging them to undertake external training.
“She also mentors staff and helps local school students undertake work experience at the council,” Mr Deasey said.
“Cheryl has coordinated team building exercises outside of work hours for the female members of council’s administration office, which has enabled them to open up and listen to her experience within council and other organisations she has worked for throughout her career.
“This is a worthy recognition for Cheryl who has been a quiet achiever for a number of years.
“She is the ringleader of a number of staff annual fundraising efforts and her contribution behind the scenes may generally go unnoticed.
“However I nominated her for the awards as recognition for all her efforts.
“The award was a boost for the indoor staff overall as they have all at times contributed to Cheryl’s initiatives and they can now share in the recognition.”
Cheryl said she was “surprised and delighted” to receive the award.
“There were a lot of categories with many nominees in each so I am thrilled to win.
“I feel honoured that such a small council was recognised.
“There were quite a few women working in non-traditional roles within councils and it was good to see them recognised too.”
Cheryl and her husband Iain went to Parliament House in Sydney on March 2 where they joined other nominees and the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole and Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons representing the Minister for the Office of Women Prue Goward for morning tea.
