Principal of Kendenup Primary School Heather Fergie nominated for WA Community Achievement Award

Kendenup Primary School principal Heather Fergie has been nominated in the 2022 WA Community Achievement Awards. Ms Fergie said she was “surprised” and “chuffed” to be nominated for the Stumpy’s Roadhouse Local Legend Award in recognition of volunteer work she undertakes in Kendenup. The school principal, who worked at Kendenup Primary School as a teacher for 30 years, took on the principal role in April this year. Ms Fergie grew up on a farm near the small town, and said she felt as though her volunteer service was a continuation of the spirit of Kendenup. “Kendenup was founded in about 1920, and since then there has been a huge amount of people volunteering and running interest groups and I’m very aware of the fact that what I’m doing is nothing new here,” she said. “People have been doing it forever, and I’m aware of the benefits that volunteering gives to a small community. “So I feel as though I’m just contributing as people have done before.” As well as serving the school community as the principal, Ms Fergie volunteers as the head of the tennis club, on the Town Hall Committee, with the Agri Club, the Kendenup Community Church and Kendenup Bridge Club, among other groups. As for how she is able to spread her time and resources across the different groups, Ms Fergie said the secret was having short meetings. “In many of those groups, I’m actually the chairperson, and I believe in short meetings and not wasting time,” she said. “I’m aware of the fact that people are volunteering their time, so you really do need to get the business done and let people go home. “Also delegate — there are a lot of people with skills and if you have people on your committee with skills, then I think delegating is important.” Ms Fergie tries to instil a volunteering spirit in her students. “I do like to encourage people to volunteer because I think to be honest that you get a lot out of it personally, you do,” she said. “There’s a lot of benefit in knowing that you’ve helped contribute to the community, and you can actually contribute to a positive vibe in the community.” Winners of the 2022 WA Community Achievement Awards will be announced at a gala presentation dinner on October 21 at the Hyatt Regency in Perth.