AMBA Appreciation Award Winners 2024
The AMBA Appreciation Awards program was established to acknowledge AMBA members’ valued contributions and introduce dedicated, creative and innovative individuals and clubs to their peers on a national level. The awards promote teamwork and recognise activities that increase the profile of AMBA within local and national communities.
2024 Winners
Rachel Callen – Tasmanian MBA – Local Individual Award
Rachel has volunteered with Tasmanian MBA for two years, boosting event participation and community engagement through family-focused activities. She also led a successful committee restructure to strengthen support and awareness for families with multiples across Tasmania.
Anna Rees – Frankston Peninsula MBA – Local Individual Award
Anna was nominated for her significant contribution in redeveloping AMBA's branding, delivering a professional and inspiring design. Her work has encouraged greater community involvement and support for the organization.
Leisl Gauci – North West Sydney MBA – Service Award
Leisl has been a dedicated volunteer with North West Sydney MBA since 2011, holding numerous roles including coordinator, president, and vice president. She has also contributed to AMBA NSW and Multinet.
Hillary Youngs – Casey and Districts MBA – Service Award
Hillary has been a key volunteer since 1987, holding various roles such as Library & Hire Coordinator, Vice President, and Fundraising Coordinator. Her dedication to supporting multiple birth families in Casey and Districts is commendable.
Natalie Ng – North West Sydney MBA – Service Award
Natalie has volunteered for 10 years, holding roles like Expectant Parents Coordinator, Memberships Coordinator, and Secretary. She has also contributed to AMBA NSW and the AMBA Board, known for her expertise in insurance and the AMBA membership portal.
Jennifer Denis – Nepean MBA – Service Award
Jennifer has been a dedicated volunteer of Nepean MBA for the past 10 years and held the roles of General Committee, Membership and President for the past 4 years.
Through Jennifer dedication and support she has been able to increase committee volunteers from as little as four committee members to 12 and is always the welcoming friendly face to all their members.
Monica Rankin - Casey and Districts MBC - International Award and Lifetime Member 2024
Monica has dedicated over 30 years to her local club and served as a director of the Australian Multiple Birth Association and on the Victorian state committee. She has been a board member of ICOMBO since 2010, chairing for over 10 years, and has also served on the ISTS board. Monica has co-authored multiple published papers and led international collaborations for multiple birth agencies. She received an international award in 2018 for her contributions and continues to present research globally, including at the 2024 ISTS and ICOMBO conferences.
Joyce Keating – Multinet MBA – First Lifetime Member 2024
Joyce was the driving force behind forming a club for parents of older multiples in 2003 at the AMBA Convention in Geelong. She has since served on the Multinet committee for over 21 years, holding roles such as President, Treasurer, and Newsletter Editor. Joyce also holds life membership in AMBA NSW, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai & Hills MBA, Illawarra South Coast MBA, and Southern Sydney MBA.