Our 2025 Housing Heroes celebrated

She’s been called the driving force of her community – and now she’s the Overall Winner in the ŌCHT Housing Heroes Awards.

Juanita was one of a record 33 tenants this week celebrated for their positive contribution to their ŌCHT-managed communities.

She received eight nominations for her award – the most for one person since the first Housing Heroes Awards were held in 2019.

Nominees call Juanita “a great asset” to her community and her list of deeds embodies “the perfect housing hero candidate really”.

"Juanita cares for everyone in our complex, to the point,” a nominee says.

“When food is dropped off, she will share the information to all. She will also visit neighbours, who are in hospital or rest homes, caring-ness, kindness, friendship, connection.

“Juanita has the qualities of a Housing Hero.”

Juanita weeds gardens for those who can't do it themselves, helps people get to appointments, and looks after animals when people are hospitalised.

She’s even helped people struggling to deal their banks and other authorities.

“For me personally she has been a great friend and confidant and has helped me to socialise more, and she comes swimming with me every week,” a nominee says.

Juanita has done plenty to improve the bricks-and-mortar that support her community, too.

She successfully campaigned to repair community street lighting to ensure people felt safer walking at night.

Juanita has also transformed her community’s previously disused lounge into a much more welcome – and used – space for all to enjoy.

Nominees say she “created a comfortable, clean, happy environment within our local lounge room” where she has added “information and activities such as, cooking recipes, board games, chill out zones and using the space more effectively”.

She also invited and hosted Age Concern outreach at the lounge, to help older residents connect with the valued community service.

Ever modest after receiving her award from OCHT board deputy chair Philippa Jones and board member Geoff Walker, Juanita thanked her community for her nominations and for supporting her as she did what she did for her neighbourhood.

She also thanked ŌCHT staff for their help and communication whenever needed.

ŌCHT board chair Darren Evans told the awards ceremony crowd each nomination recognised the impact one person can have on whole communities.

Every act of selflessness enriches our communities one act, and one person at a time.

This year’s Housing Heroes Awards recipients demonstrated this in all they’ve done for their neighbours over the past year.

Among them was Marlene, who offered cooking lessons and rides for shopping and appointments; Anthony, who delivered meals and checked in on neighbours during tough times; Alvin, who bridged language gaps for non-English speaking tenants, and Jimmy, who managed rubbish bins, helped vulnerable neighbours with housework and made regular welfare checks.

A special posthumous award – another first for the awards - honoured Tom, who was remembered as a quiet, reliable helper who maintained shared spaces and supported neighbours when they needed a strong, safe pair of hands.

Alan strengthened social ties through community patrols, an arts group, and a monthly poetry night. Hayden ensured community repair needs were known and David kept a caring eye on his community, assisting neighbours who had fallen and reporting repair needs.

Christiana and Paula-Jo accompanied neighbours to health, safety, and social service appointments and often acted as their advocates.

Other tenants gave heaps of other, hands-on help. Don sprayed weeds, Saten collected bins and cared for homes and animals, Andy cleared leaves and washed paths, and Rodney water-blasted slippery walkways and trimmed hedges.

Grant, Melinda, and Michael were praised for ongoing garden and outdoor care. Jodie tended a neighbour’s garden and lawns after a hospital stay, and Vivienne was celebrated for her beautiful garden and helpfulness to others.

ŌCHT community engagement lead Polly, who organised the awards, says the winners all go above and beyond to be great neighbours.

“The real strength in a community comes from looking out for each another. We’re all neighbours to others, and we all have a part to play in create communities where everyone feels safe, valued and connected.”

The 2025 Housing Heroes Awards were held as part of the Annual Tenant Meeting.

Congratulations to all winners!