Thursday, 30 October 2025

 Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (09:55): I rise today to commend two dedicated, civic-minded young women from Dandenong High School who are the 2024 and 2025 recipients of the Roz Blades Community Spirit Award. The Roz Blades Community Spirit Award was established last year to recognise a community-minded year 11 student who contributes to their community, demonstrates kindness and empathy towards others and sets a positive example for their peers through their actions.

Roz Blades is a former City of Greater Dandenong councillor, several-time mayor and the 2021 City of Greater Dandenong Living Treasure. Beyond that she is well known and well loved as a community advocate and volunteer who has dedicated her life to serving the community since migrating to Australia in the 1970s. The 2024 and 2025 recipients of the award are Ruba Tivendale and Elaha Rezai. Ruba is a passionate student leader who has served as SRC president this year after being voted in by her peers. She has been a dedicated contributor to the school community for a very long time and has worked collaboratively with her peers for the betterment of student conditions and the school community broadly. Elaha Rezai is the 2025 recipient. She is a proud young community leader both at her school but also outside of it. She takes on leadership responsibilities through the SRC at the school, but outside of school she volunteers for important organisations like SisterWorks and Headspace. Congratulations to these two brilliant young women.