White Pages Covers Program

Port Macquarie local Alani Cockshutt to appear on latest Yellow Pages® and White Pages® cover

February 11, 2010

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Each year, locals are featured on the covers of the Yellow Pages® and White Pages® directories in recognition of the contributions they make to their communities. Under the theme Courageous Australians, this year directories producer, Sensis, is recognising courageous people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to overcome adversity and help others in their time of need.

This year, for the first time, there will be different directory covers for Taree, Port Macquarie and Kempsey, with each directory to feature a local person on the cover.

After receiving nominations from community members for the annual honour, Port Macquarie resident, Alani Cockshutt has been selected, to appear on the cover of this year’s Port Macquarie directory which is distributed to Port Macquarie, Forster, Gloucester, Kempsey, Lorde Howe Island, Nambucca, Taree, Wauchope and surrounding areas.

Despite only being five years old, Alani has been courageous in overcoming an aggressive cancer and helping other children through similar situations.

In October 2008, Alani was diagnosed with Leukaemia, an illness that claims the lives of many young children each year. The cancer was quick to take over her body but she always remained brave, despite spending most of her time in hospital undergoing chemotherapy.

What happened during her treatment was an inspiration to hospital staff and her parents. Alani was only focussed on giving all her attention to fellow children in the ward, encouraging them to take their medication and have fun together, even though she was experiencing painful reactions to the chemotherapy herself.

Now in remission, Alani has returned to school but no less determined to continue to help sick children and she is actively involved with Cure our Kids, an organisation that raises funds for the oncology unit at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

“I am so proud of Alani. The determination and bravery she has shown is beyond her years. It’s been a tough journey for all of us but her positivity and willingness to help out the other kids in the ward has been so inspirational,” said Alani’s mother Melinda. 

Distribution of Port Macquarie Yellow Pages® and White Pages® is planned to start on 13 February 2010 and it will take approximately six weeks for the directories to be delivered to all households. 

Sensis encourages residents and businesses to recycle their old directories. In most areas, Yellow Pages® and White Pages® can be recycled as part of normal kerbside recycling services. Visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au  to find out about recycling services in your area.

You may also be interested to read about Courageous Australians from neighbouring towns. Congratulations to Terry Giddy, appearing on the Kempsey cover, and Donna Carson on the Taree Yellow Pages® and White Pages® cover.

 Did you know? The past three local people who appeared on the Port Macquarie Yellow Pages® and White Pages® cover were:

2009/10: Port Macquarie resident Maureen Cooke featured on the current 2009/10 Yellow Pages^®  and White Pages^® cover under the theme ‘Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities’. For more than 40 years, Maureen has encouraged the community to embrace the arts by coordinating the weekly Arts Society Markets on the grounds of Manor House.

2008/09: Trevor Sargent appeared on the ‘Celebrating Australian Flavour’ directory cover, where he was recognised for playing a significant role in growing the food and beverage industry in Port Macquarie, by helping to establish the Hastings Farmers’ Market.

2007/08: Norm Morgan from Port Macquarie graced the cover under the ‘Champions of our Community’ theme for his involvement with the Port Macquarie Surf Life Saving Club since 1967.