Honouring one of our own

This article appeared in the Winter 2017 issue of the Union Stand.

NSGEU Local 104 is proud to feature one of our members, Johnena Kennedy, a community outreach worker who is a very involved union activist and this year’s recipient of the Dr. M.A. Mian Award. This award was presented to her at the 2016 Living with Mental Illness and Addiction Conference in Sydney for the impact she has on the lives of people living with mental illness and addiction.
Johnena expresses how happy she was the day she found out that she was the recipient of the award and knowing that her co-workers nominated her out of respect for the work she did with the clients made it that much more special. She didn’t think anything could top that joy until she received a phone call that very same day from her son and daughter-in-law telling her that she would soon be a Grandma. Every day in life is memorable but there are some which you will never forget and that is certainly one for Johnena.
Anyone who has entered Johnena’s life, whether on a personal or professional level, knows what a kind and wise woman she is. Johnena has faced and overcome many challenges in her life and has used those challenges as a resource to help others overcome their own challenges.
Johnena has been helping people with addictions for over 25 years and goes above and beyond for every client and co-worker. She is always accessible and will do whatever she can to find a solution for the client. She cares about the clients and does extensive follow-up with them; keeping staff informed every step of the way. Genuine and caring, Johnena gets high praise from clients, staff, and her co-workers.
– Submitted by Johnena’s co-worker & fellow Local 104 member, Kim Sheppard.