This week the NSW Women of the Year Awards took place and Ellen Morris, Lead Teacher at Kurri Kurri Rainbow Club, was nominated in the 2022 Aware Super NSW Community Hero of the Year Award category. The NSW Women of the Year Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by women across NSW and this category in particular is to recognise women who work tirelessly for their community and are the first to roll up their sleeves to help others, and motivates those around them to contribute to their communities.
As stated in her nomination:
Ellena Morris is a passionate advocate for inclusivity in swimming, who has supported athletes with a disability to achieve their potential for over 45 years. Mrs Morris was head coach of the Special Olympics Australia Aquatics Team for several years. In 2021 she was awarded Sport NSW’s Distinguished Long Service Award for 30 years of volunteer service to Special Olympics Australia.
Mrs Morris also founded the Coalfields United Amateur Swimming Club, an inclusive club for swimmers of varying abilities. As a swimming coach for athletes with a disability, Mrs Morris spends 50-60 hours in the pool a week. Mrs Morris is currently the lead teacher for an NDIS registered swimming club, as well as inclusion officer for Belgravia Leisure Centres.
“Ellena is very humble in her achievements with her service to the disability sector for swimming. She is such an asset not only for Kurri Kurri Rainbow Club members but to the entire community of the Newcastle and Hunter Region. Ellena works tirelessly teaching children and young adults the fundamentals of swimming every week and provides wonderful support to our instructors with her knowledge, experience and of course hands on approach. Ellena may have missed out as the winner of this award but she is already a winner to all that know her.” – Jarrod Anthony, Development Co-ordinator Northern NSW
Congratulations to Ellena for being a finalist amongst the many amazing women nominated!!
Rainbow Club is very lucky to have such an inspirational woman leading one of our clubs.