Steel Magnolia Award

Every day, Lifeline’s volunteer telephone counsellors hear stories of courage, bravery and strength. It is these stories that inspired the creation of the Steel Magnolia Award.

The title "Steel Magnolia" encapsulates the women that we honour; women who have shown strength and an unbreakable spirit in the face of adversity and compassion in improving the lives of others.

At a gala dinner on Friday 12th of March, Juliet Roosendaal was named as the recipient of the 2010 Steel Magnolia Award.

At the age of four, Juliet Roosendaal had a fall and her knee became red and swollen. Unable to walk, Juliet was hospitalised for two years, eventually learning to walk again with the use of callipers. At first doctors diagnosed Juliet’s condition as Tuberculosis but as other joints became swollen, diagnosed her with Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis. Juliet’s life became punctuated with hospital visits, treatments and bed rest throughout her childhood, teens and twenties. In her early thirties, in attempt to alleviate her pain, doctors fused her knee.

Juliet continued to experienced severe joint and muscle ache and fatigue leading to an eventual diagnosis of Lupus and Sjorgren’s Syndrome. With no support available, Juliet and fellow Lupus sufferer Colleen Hook established the Lupus Association and raised a staggering $60,000 for medical research into the disease.

At 72, Juliet is a tireless worker in our community. She has volunteered for the Arthritis Foundation and been part of the Scleroderma Lupus Resource Society Committee. The focus of Juliet’s recent endeavours has been setting up the Hunter New England Health Children’s’ Arthritis Clinic at the John Hunter Hospital. Juliet also organises seminars, facilitates support groups and shares her knowledge and experiences with clubs, community groups and medical students at the University of Newcastle.

"The Steel Magnolia Award was created by Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter in 2004 to highlight the many wonderful local women who have faced incredible adversity and seeing a greater need, resolved that better services should be in place for our community." said Kay Chapman Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter Chief Executive Officer.
"It is our great privilege to honour all these women and the contribution they have made to our community.”

Previous award recipients include:

Dele Gilmore - vital in bringing Ronald McDonald House to the John Hunter Hospital.
Robyn Cotterell-Jones - established the VOCAL Victims Support Unit.
Jill Stuart - fundamental in opening the Stuart Centre for people with cerebral palsy.
Sue-Ellen Robertson - CEO, SIDS & Kids Hunter
Linda Pepperall – Riding for the Disabled
Leonie Forsyth - Kidsafe Hunter

Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter would like to thank Melinda Smith for her expert MCing duties, Lady Mayoress Cathy Tate for her ongoing patronage of the award and Major Supporter ResCo Services. Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter would also like to acknowledge the nominators who felt inspired to put pen to paper and submit the stories of these remarkable women.

Throughout the 2010 Steel Magnolia Award presentation, the amazing work of all 15 nominees was acknowledged and celebrated. The nominated women come from all walks of life, but what unites them is their selflessness in the face of adversity. Congratulations to all the wonderful nominees: Kristin Clulow, Liz Mullinar, Sandra Harrison, Melba Mensch, Jenny Butters, Helen Willett, Rhonda Elsley, Leslie Wiles, Lesley Stevenson, Lenore Miller, Juliet Roosendaal, Jacki Trapman, Marion McAndrew, Ruth Richards and Margaret McNaughton AM.

For further information on the Steel Magnolia Award please call Julienne Constable at Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter on 4940 2007 or email julienne@lifelinehunter.org.au