Edna Pennicott OAM

Founder of Kingborough Helping Hands

2021 TAS Local Hero

Edna Pennicott’s organisation provides support to people facing financial hardship.

Kingborough Helping Hands (KHH) delivers care packages of food and other essential items for community members who have fallen on hard times. Edna collects these goods herself and personally delivers many of the packages. At Christmas, she organises the packing and delivery of around 250 hampers and 300 children’s presents for families in need.

Through KHH, Edna supports several local women’s shelters, providing household essentials, furniture and clothes for women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. She also operates an after-hours mobile van service that offers hot food and support to people who are sleeping rough. The majority of KHH’s programs are community-funded, and Edna is the driving force behind all fundraising activities.

Edna recently received an inaugural Aurora Energy Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of 40 years of dedicated service to the most vulnerable members of the community.