18th September, 2025.
Congratulations to Willow Gumbley for being awarded the Special Age Award in the Wollondilly Australia Day Awards. Willow is an engaged young member of the Wollondilly community, actively participating in the local home-schooling group. She has contributed to environmental initiatives like tree planting days and regularly volunteers at the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary in Bargo. Willow, who will turn 11 in 2025, has shown remarkable creativity and dedication through her entries in the Australian Museum's 'History Makers' School Video competition. Competing against students from across the country, she earned runner-up in the Creative category two years in a row — an extraordinary achievement for someone so young. Willow's 2022 video titled "Grateful for the Australian Suffrage Movement", and her 2023 entry, "Thank You Mary MacKillop", both celebrated empowering female figures. Willow meticulously researched each topic, developed her scripts using a storyboarding technique, and experimented with video styles to best convey her message. She then spent weeks filming and editing, driven by her passion for storytelling and creativity. Willow's commitment, curiosity, and community spirit make her a truly deserving recipient of this award, and a wonderful role model for young Australians.