Celebrating Our People: Garden Village Excellence Awards 2026
Garden Village celebrated Aged Care Employee Day by recognising the people at the heart of our community at the 2026 Garden Village Excellence Awards.
This year, one in five Garden Village employees was nominated for an Excellence Award, with nominations coming from the colleagues who see their contribution every day.
To every person nominated — congratulations. Being recognised by the people you work alongside is something special.
And to everyone who took the time to nominate a coworker, thank you. Your words gave us the opportunity to recognise the kindness, professionalism, teamwork and often quiet acts of leadership happening across Garden Village every day.
The event was opened with an Acknowledgement of Country from Garden Village Employee Jackson Brannigan.
Thank you to Garden Village Board Member Tim Everson for joining us to celebrate our people, and to General Manager Aged Care Tammie Gough and Chief People and Culture Officer Kerry Murnain who presented the awards.
Some of those words captured beautifully what the awards are all about.
Emerging Leadership Award recipient Megan Duffy was recognised for the professionalism and calm she has shown while taking on additional responsibilities in Retirement Living, along with the empathy she brings to supporting families. Her nomination summed up her emerging leadership simply: “She leads through her actions, not her position.”
Leadership Award – Dorie Van Vessem was independently nominated by three coworkers: “It’s so great to have a nurse on the floor that compliments PCAs’ work and values their input.”
Naomi Westcott was recognised for her compassion, knowledge and dedication, with her nominator adding: “I see her as a future leader at Garden Village. We are lucky to have her.”
Marilyn Butler celebrated 15 years service and was described by a colleague as someone they could “trust and rely on when it comes to residents’ wellbeing”, while Bernadette Hope was recognised as “a true inspiration to all who work with her.”
Margaret Cudmore’s nomination celebrated a colleague who is “always the first one to lend a hand to anyone in need”, while Jordon Betham was recognised for the genuine kindness, patience and care she shows clients every day.
Our Environmental Support Services Team was recognised as a team that genuinely looks out for everyone across the Village.
Congratulations to our 2026 Excellence Award Recipients
Compassion Award
Marilyn Butler — Wintergarden
Bernadette Hope — Wintergarden
Therese Cooper — Westerweller
Collaboration Award
Margaret Cudmore — Maintenance
Angie Gordon — Community Services
Jordon Betham — Community Services
Bridie Hall — Administration & Customer Service
Integrity Award
Manoj Dharmawardhane — Catering
Traci Hampson — Environmental Services
Sam Kiffin — Rosters
Forward Looking Award
Ann Vercoe — Garden Lodge
Narin Searle — Westerweller and Wintergarden
Alison Russell — Westerweller
Enablement Award
Nicola Mills — Clinical Team
Iksha Limbu — Clinical Team
Cheryl Canadi — Garden Lodge
Rachel Arnata — Quality Team
Emerging Leadership Award
Megan Duffy — Retirement Living
Sony Thomas — Clinical Team
Leadership Award
Dorie Van Vessem — Clinical Team
Naomi Westcott — Garden Lodge
Team Award
Eileen Crinion and Lisa Ratcliffe — RAC Admissions Team
Environmental Services Team
The day also celebrated the dedication and loyalty of employees reaching significant 10, 15, 25 and 30-year service milestones, recognising the contribution they have made to Garden Village, our residents, clients and community over many years. Special recognition to Mark from Maintenance for his 30 years of service.
Service Award recipients: Rachel Babich, Maryanne Bowder, Tanya Brooks, Eileen Crinion, Katie Firkin, Megan Gregory, Vickey Merrell, Jennifer Mudford, Sunshine Slater and Vikki White for 10 years; Marilyn Butler, Karen Lawrence and Scott Wykes for 15 years; Josie Cameron for 25 years; and Mark Field for an incredible 30 years of service to Garden Village.
Congratulations to every nominee and award recipient, and thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate.
