International Women’s Day celebrates the successes of women, and the NSW Award is based on each State electorate nominating a woman for her achievements.
Carol Israel has excelled in community volunteering; former union official with the SDA looking after retail workers; currently serving as a Blacktown City Councilor; and recently became a businesswoman by purchasing Lone Star Blacktown in January this year.
Carol moved to Australia from the Philippines in in 2001 and her first job was at Burger Kings.
She was active with various community organisations and working at the union and seeing the mistreatment of vulnerable people that she decided to make real change by joining the Labor Party as she believed it had a focus on supporting individuals in need.
Carol was first elected as a Blacktown City Councillor in 2016 and has served as Chair of the Access Advisory committee and the Multicultural Advisory committees as well as active on other committees and being a significant part of the Doonside Station upgrades.
Cr Israel said: “As a local resident and Chair of the Access Committee, I saw it was important to support the local community in getting petitions, rallies and lobbying the Liberal State Government to overturn their 2011 decision to cancel Doonside Station upgrade and support people with disabilities.”
“I am humbled to be considered for the award and there are many worthy women who are doing great works in supporting the community.
Stephen Bali, State Member for Blacktown, nominated Cr Israel for her significant contribution to supporting community organisations and retail workers that often work in precarious situations and do not have the ability to stand up for their rights as they are employed as casuals.
Mr Bali said: “Carol has gone from being a casual crew member at Burger King to becoming an entrepreneur at the Lone Star restaurant in Blacktown and a lot of things in between.”
“Carol might be compact in size, but she is huge in her achievements.”
