Congratulations to the 2026 recipients of the Cynthia Edgell Empowerment Opportunity Gift:
Gayoung Baik (Awardee) Simone Tsantarlis and Juile Noonan (Sponsors) Western Chances
Razieh Parsa (Awardee) Na-Rae Seo, representing Karen Edwards (Sponsors) Vincent Care
Israt Jahar (Awardee) Sponsor, Natalie Parker (Sponsor)
Huma Ronald (Awardee) was unable to attend today Mitzi Espinosa (Sponsor) Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Following is a copy of Past President's Kevin Sheehan's presentation.
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Rotarians & Guests, today provides us with an opportunity to remember the late Cynthia Edgell, a distinguished Member of Rotary Melbourne for over 15 years with the Classification, Life Coach – and throughout those years, Cynthia dedicated so much of her community work to mentoring women.
Cynthia was presented with the David Wittner Mentoring Award in 2020 and she, along with David Carruthers were my Vice Presidents during our Rotary year 2019/20.
In that year, I was privileged to acknowledge that our member Bruce Davidson facilitated a generous bequest in the name of his late brother Geoffrey.
More recently, Rotary Melbourne received Cynthia’s generous bequest as a provision of her Estate.
Under the umbrella of our Community Welfare Committee, we deliberated and created the criteria for an annual Cynthia Edgell Empowerment Opportunity Gift - with the aim of continuing the mentoring role of young women that was Cynthia’s dedication.
In doing so, we kept Cynthia’s extended family in Tasmania updated on our deliberations and the selection progress of conferring the inaugural Three (3) Awards in August last year - and today, our second conferment presentation … there are 4 Awards being conferred to 4 most worthy young ladies.
President Philip, would you now present the Cynthia’s Gift Award Certificates to:
Unfortunately, our 4th Awardee Huma Ronald was unable to attend today with her Brotherhood of St Laurence Sponsor & Development coach, Mitzi Espinosa.
In conferring the Awards this year, it was great to again have the Partnership support of both Western Chances and The Brotherhood of St Laurence who both Sponsored an Awardee last year.
Also, it is great to work with a new Partner Sponsor Organisation, Vincent Care who have sponsored two Awardees - and I acknowledge the involvement of our Cynthia’s Gift team member, Branko Panich in making this introduction happen.
Rotary Melbourne appreciates the relationship with our Partner Organisations as we continue the mentoring roll with all these worthy Awardees.
Now for some more formal introductions of the 2026 Awardees who have all demonstrated a strong Motivation for Personal Growth, Alignment with Program Goals and a clear need of financial assistance:
Firstly, Gayoung Baik
Gayoung is pursuing a university degree in Commerce with a focus on finance and accounting. She demonstrated a strong academic commitment, clear career aspirations in business, and a desire to contribute back to the community by supporting others facing disadvantage. Gayoung demonstrated a clear pathway to professional employment and has specifically sought funding to support essential education-related costs, including study materials, transport and university expenses and so reduce financial pressure and enable a focus on her studies.
Thankyou Gayoung and thankyou Simone & Julie for your supporting role.
Razieh Parsa is a qualified accountant who is highly motivated to rebuild her professional career in Australia.
She has re-engaged in study and is undertaking further qualifications to gain local CPA accreditation, demonstrating resilience and strong commitment to re-entering the workforce.
Razieh demonstrated a clear pathway toward employment through completion of her studies as funding would directly address key barriers, accelerating her transition to sustainable employment and financial independence for herself and her young son.
Thankyou Razieh and thanks to Na-Rae for your supporting role and please pass on our best wishes to Karen who is being married this weekend.
Israt Jahar is strongly motivated to become a registered nurse and build a stable, meaningful career in healthcare.
She demonstrates resilience, determination, and a clear commitment to improving her circumstances and has a well-defined and practical pathway to employment through completion of her nursing qualification.
Funding would specifically support essential education-related costs and childcare, directly enabling her to progress toward economic independence and long-term stability.
Thankyou Israt and thankyou to Natalie for your supporting role.
Our 4th Awardee, Huma Ronald is a trained and experienced teacher who is strongly committed to re-establishing her teaching career in Australia. She is actively working toward obtaining Victorian teaching registration, demonstrating clear intent to return to the workforce in her qualified profession.
Funding will support specific costs of English language testing, qualification assessment and teacher registration. This targeted support will enable her to progress toward employment as a teacher, build professional confidence, and improve her family’s financial stability.
Huma has asked me to read her words of Gratitude as supplied yesterday:
“It is truly an honour to receive the Cynthia’s Gift award. This generous support will help me complete my registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and continue my journey in education here in Australia.
Before coming to Australia, I served as a school principal and was a member of the Karachi Catholic Board of Education. Education has always been more than a profession for me, it is my purpose. Starting again in a new country has not been easy and there were moments of uncertainty and self-doubt. But now I have renewed hope and determination.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mitzi from the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, whose support and belief in me made this opportunity possible. Thank you for seeing my potential and helping me move forward.
Thank you to the Rotary Club of Melbourne for your kindness and generosity, I am deeply grateful, and I hope to give back to the community through education in the years ahead.”
Rotarians & guests, together with their respective sponsors….
Rotary Melbourne will continue a mentoring role for these four, most worthy, 2026 Awardees.
In concluding this segment of today’s program, please join with me in wishing Gayoung, Razieh, Israt & Huma all the very best as they pursue their career dreams.
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