It is with great excitement that we announce the winner of our We’re Proud of You competition - Melanie O’Dell from Maitland, NSW.

Like many others in 2020, Melanie was doing all that she could to keep up with the demands of life. Through this experience, Melanie began to surf and roller-skate to help alleviate the pressures of what could be seen as the toughest year our generation has faced.

What started as a COVID hobby quickly turned into a passion project, where she founded a not-for-profit initiative called Skate Mate. A place where people are welcomed to try roller-skating for free, whilst making new friends and building self-confidence. We’re Proud of Melanie, for pushing herself outside her comfort zone and creating a safe space for locals to learn new skills, try different experiences and positively influence her community.