11th February, 2026.
Linda McCarthy is the winner of the Local Hero (Individual) Award in the Wollondilly Shire 2026 Australia Day Awards, for her work in establishing the charity Think of the Five Arrive Alive [TOTFAA]. A fierce advocate for the wellbeing of youth in Wollondilly, Linda has been involved with TOTFAA since its establishment in 2024 following the horrific car crash that claimed the lives of five of Wollondilly's teens, all students of local Picton High School. Determined to let the legacy of the five teens be one of hope and positive change, the members of the group have put aside their own grief to spread awareness of the dangers of unsafe driving. Linda's initiative saw the group receiving registered charity status for TOTFAA in 2025, allowing for even greater impact as they look to the future. In the last year alone, the group has raised over $30,000 to put towards initiatives to promote safe driving, engaging, and educating the community. Linda and the TOTFAA group is making a positive change in Wollondilly with their commitment to changing attitudes, preventing harm, and creating safer roads for the community.
