The desire to lead and create change, has fueled the enormous work ethic of Wollongong's human whirlwind Vicki Tiegs.
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As well as her day job as the co-founder and executive director of the Waples Marketing Group, Ms Tiegs has been a tireless advocate and worker for this region. That contribution has been recognised with an OAM for services to the Illawarra community.
"The thing for me is I like to see a difference being made and If there is something that needs changing I'm keen to help progress that," she said.
In 2006, Ms Tiegs helped establish the Illawarra International Women's Day Committee and since 2010 has chaired the event which is now the biggest social event on our calendar, raising much needed awareness and funds to help women in this community.
"We started in a room in 2006 with 120 people and now we host 850 people and we've raised over half a million dollars," she said.
The vast and varied roles and responsibilities Ms Tiegs has taken on over the years bear testament to the old adage 'if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it'.
Among her many contributions, Ms Tiegs highlights being a committee member of the hugely successful Pass The Hat fundraiser with country star Lee Kernaghan which raised over $20 million for people suffering on the land with drought
With her family fifth generation graziers in central Queensland, that initiative was hugely personal. After her father was killed six months into a second tour of duty in Malaya n 1964, Ms Tiegs was raised on the land by her mother and grandmother.
"It was a very matriarchal family. It was quite normal in our family to see a woman leading within the family unit, for me very natural," she said.
"My grandmother was no shrinking violet, she had a licence for pub in 1930s in a town outside 'Rockie' (Rockhampton) and was someone who knew hard work about.
"For young women out there who are wondering about their own path, I want them to know you can get to where you want to go."
It was also were she saw the impacts of family and domestic violence which fuel her latest desire for change _ working with the Illawarra Women's Health Centre to establish a national-first women's trauma recovery centre for the region.
"I want to see the women's trauma recovery centre come to fruition," Ms Tiegs said.
"Many years ago, and I've spoken about this, my mother's best friend lost her niece through domestic violence.
"She locked the kids in the wardrobe and said 'don't come out until you hear a familiar voice that's not your father' and took off out of the house to one of the neighbours ... and he shot her in the back
"I was only young, 10 or 11, and I saw the devastation in the family and saw how domestic violence is the most horrific experience for families.
"I don't want to sit back when I have the ability to bring that centre to fruition. As a city of Innovation, to have an Australian first like that would be something we could be very proud of.
"But we need $10 million and need help from all levels of government and we need the community to get behind it."
Vicki Tiegs' achievements
Illawarra International Women's Day Committee
- Chairperson, since 2010;
- Vice-Chair and Co-Founder, 2006-2009.
Illawarra and Venues NSW
- Director, Venues NSW, 2012-2017.
- Chairperson, Illawarra Venues Council, 2012-2017.
- Director, Tourism Wollongong, 1998-2011.
Illawarra Venues Authority
- Director, 2008-2012.
- Chairperson, Events and Business Development Committee, 2008-2012.
Wollongong Sportsground Trust
- Director/Trustee, 2004-2008.
- Member, Consultative Committee, 2001-2002.
Community Health
- Committee Member, Red Cross Calling, Australian Red Cross, 1998-2001.
- Director and Founder, Healthier Illawarra Men Committee, since 2009.
- Director, Illawarra Committee, National Breast Cancer Foundation, since 2006.
Charity and Fundraising
- Committee Member, Pass the Hat Fundraiser (Lee Kernaghan), 1999-2001.
- Committee Member, Farmhand Committee, 2001-2002.
- Committee Member, Shepherd Centre for Deaf Children Carlennium, 2000-2002.
Community Other
- Committee Member, Wollongong Centenary of Federation Committee, 1998-2001.
- Director, Illawarra Academy of Sport, 2007-2010.
- Founding Committee Member, Business and Community Support Committee, Legacy Wollongong, since 2008.
Professional
- Co-Founder, Co-Owner and Executive Director, Waples Marketing Group, since 2003.
- Co-Owner, Bluejuice Events Wollongong, since 2007.
- Co-Owner, The Grants and Fundraising Institute Wollongong, since 2009.
- National Promotions and Publicity Director, WIN Corporation, Wollongong, 1996-2002.
- State Promotions and Publicity Manager, WIN Television Queensland, Rockhampton, 1990-1996.
Regional Fundraiser and Media Officer, Queensland Spastic Welfare League (Rockhampton), 1987-1990.
Awards and recognition include:
Citizen of the Year, Wollongong City Council, 2018.
Life Membership, Destination Wollongong.
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