White Pages Covers Program

White Pages® honours Valerie Zwart’s sense of community

May 19, 2011

Image: 

Mapleton resident, Valerie Zwart has been selected to appear on the cover of this year’s Sunshine Coast Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® book which will be distributed throughout Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Gympie from 30 April 2011.

Each year, Sensis, the publisher of the Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^®, recognises the contribution of local residents in the community by featuring them on the cover of its books.

The theme for this year’s covers, Australians Creating a Better Future, recognises people throughout Australia who have made a positive contribution to their community through projects or initiatives that help to make a better future for Australia. These projects have contributed environmentally, economically and/or socially to the local community and will benefit the next generation of Australians.

Valerie’s selection recognises the commitment and dedication she has shown to her community by actively volunteering with local organisations for the past 20 years.

Since moving to the Sunshine Coast in 1989, Valerie has become well known for her ongoing efforts to raise money for local projects. She is often seen around town selling raffle tickets, cakes and organising fundraising events.

Valerie has been a member of the Mapleton Library Committee since she arrived in the area and she has dedicated many hours to helping the library raise funds to purchase books and improve their facilities. This commitment has helped keep the local library operational, and ensure its visitors can enjoy current and up-to-date reading materials.

Valerie and her husband, Gerry, are also members of the Horticulture Media Association which they have been a part of since its inception in the early nineties. They also regularly volunteer at the Queensland Garden Expo where they provide gardening and planting advice to the community.

“I have always been an active member of the community, and for me, I enjoy contributing my time towards local projects because you can see the impact it has on the residents. I never thought I’d be recognised for this, so to be featured on the local Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® book is truly humbling,” said Valerie.

Valerie’s contributions have been recognised with a number of awards, including an Order of Australia Medal in 2010.

Did you know? The last three local people to appear on the Sunshine Coast Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover were:

2010/11: Caloundra residents Jackson Smith and Ben Savage featured on the Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^®  cover under the theme Courageous Australians. Jackson and Ben bravely saved a man from drowning during a fishing boat accident.

2009/10: Buderim resident, Kendall Perkins-Brakels, graced the Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover under the theme Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities. Kendall uses her renowned artistic skills to assist local organisations and community groups including a recently completed mural called ‘Octypus’ Garden’ for the Nambour Hospital.

2008/09: Local Noosa restaurateur, Jim Berardo, was the cover hero for the Celebrating Australian Flavour directory theme. Jim launched ‘Australian Celebration of Food and Wine – Noosa Style’ in 2002 to provide local growers with a platform to showcase their produce.