By Charlene Macaulay
Laura Mallia has crammed more philanthropic work into her 17 years than most people manage in a lifetime.
The Hoppers Crossing resident recently received a Lalor Hero award for her volunteer work with the Edmund Rice Foundation, with which she’s spent the past two years tutoring refugee children.
The Lalor Hero awards are presented annually by Lalor MP Joanne Ryan to exceptional volunteers in the community.
Laura, a Thomas Carr College graduate who hopes to study childcare at Australian Catholic University next year, travelled to the Phillipines earlier this year to volunteer in orphanages and schools.
She has fundraised for the RSPCA, the Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation [AAAF] and kids cancer charity CanTeen. Earlier this year, she received a Mayoral Youth Award for her efforts.
“It’s good to get recognised,” Laura said.
“It started probably six years ago with the RSPCA. I do the Million Paws Walk every year, and for the past four years I’ve done Cupcake Day, also for the RSPCA … I do a bake stall and hold raffles.
“For AAAF and CanTeen, I cut and donated my hair – 30 centimetres off, three years ago.”
