Lifelong community worker, tireless volunteer Maureen Fisher-Sim (nee Ottey), is the deserving recipient of the City of Cockburn’s 2025 WA Day Award.
The award not only recognises her many years’ dedication to the Cockburn community, but the selfless hours spent over several decades volunteering in the Goldfields, particularly Kalgoorlie.
Mrs Fisher-Sim received the award at the City’s annual Pioneers Luncheon on Friday 6 June at the Spearwood Dalmatinac Sport & Community Club.
The first luncheon was held 54 years ago in 1971 to honour residents who have called Cockburn home for more than 60 years.
Mayor Logan Howlett said the award was a recognition that local residents often made significant contributions to their communities, improving quality of life for everyone.
“I’ve known Maureen for many years and I’ve seen the results of the good work she does first hand,” Mayor Howlett said.
“The great thing about Maureen is that while she naturally knuckles down to do the work of volunteering, she is a great connector and brings people along with her, creating energy and desire to get things done together.
“I think this is one of the secrets of successful communities and volunteering. People connect and collaborate to listen to the locals and provide the unique support needed in each suburb. Maureen is very adept at that, and we are very thankful.”
Over the years, Mrs Fisher-Sim has been involved in about 30 not-for-profit associations mostly in executive and board roles helping realise a variety of projects including:
- Working with Friends of the Community to fund a variety of good causes including swimming lessons for migrants, children’s medications and meals for people experiencing homelessness
- Hami Helps (founder/chairperson), and the provision of seven Hami Community Eats mealtime events, feeding 1,200 people with contributions from 27 local businesses and sponsors
- Volunteering for Hamilton Hill Community Group, The Hub 6163, Cockburn Historical Society, Coolbellup Community Church, Cooby Cares, and Feed it Forward (Hamilton Hill) food charities, advocating for a new Hamilton Hill community hall and helping organise multiple local history and grassroots neighbourhood events.
In Kalgoorlie, Mrs Fisher-Sim completed significant service with Guides WA ranging from Queen’s Guide Award (1975) recipient to Leader, to Warranted Region Commissioner.
She volunteered tirelessly to negotiate with three levels of government as well as Guides WA and builders to realise construction of the Regional Guide Centre.
In 1991 the Kalgoorlie centre’s office was named in her honour and she received a Guides WA Wattle Good Service Award recognising her service as Region Commissioner Goldfields.
In 2009 she received a 40-year service award from the Chief Commissioner of Girl Guides Australia.
In 2025 Mrs Fisher-Sim was named the City of Cockburn Community Citizen of the Year, following her receipt of the Mayor’s Volunteer Award in 2024.
Other local awards include:
- 2023 - Friends of the Community – Volunteering WA Organisation of the Year (Volunteering WA)
- 2021 - Friends of the Community – Cockburn Volunteer Organisation of the Year, 2nd place (City of Cockburn)
- 2020 - Cooby Cares – Cockburn Volunteer Organisation of the Year (City of Cockburn)
- 2016 – WA Active Citizen of the Year (Cockburn).
Mrs Fisher-Sim is a fourth-generation citizen and her commitment to helping her community follows in the impressive footsteps of her great grandmother Maud Mary Winfield who was the driving force behind the establishment of the iconic Memorial Hall in Hamilton Hill 100 years ago.