Jersey Angel of the Year: Meet your nominees

The winner could be a carer who has missed out on everyday life in order to look after a loved one, or they may work in the healthcare industry, dedicating their lives to caring for others.

They could be a member of one of our emergency services who has been behind a major safety campaign or had an important role to play in a major incident.

These people are our guardian angels and their work, often in tough conditions and under immense pressure, deserves recognition.

Read about the nominations for Jersey Angel of the Year 2015 here:

Name: Linda Huard

Parish: St Clement

Nominated by: Deborah Lezzoni

A NURSE who ‘goes the extra mile’ is in the running for a Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Linda Huard was nominated for the award by Deborah Lezzoni, who says she is ‘one of the most caring people I have ever met’.

Ms Huard works in the community as a district nurse and has been at Mrs Lezzoni’s side ‘through thick and thin’.

After Mrs Lezzoni lost her younger brother and her parents within months of each other, she says that Ms Huard was her rock.

She adds that in the 30 years she has known Ms Huard they have ‘laughed together, cried together and shared things nobody would want to go through’.

Mrs Lezzoni said: ‘She works tirelessly at the Family Nursing Clinic and goes the extra mile for all her patients and her colleagues, even shopping for those patients who cannot get things for themselves.’

Ms Huard, who has suffered from ill health herself, also attends the funerals of patients she has looked after.

Mrs Lezzoni added: ‘She is my best friend, a great nurse, a mother and a true genuine, caring, beautiful lady.

‘I’ve nominated her because she deserves credit for being a fantastic person who never asks for anything and who does because she can. She is truly wonderful.’

Name: Giffard Aubin

Parish: St Saviour

Nominated by: Amanda du Feu

AN EIGHTY-year-old man who has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer but continues to volunteer for the Salvation Army has been nominated for a Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Giffard Aubin has been volunteering for many years and, despite his diagnosis, he continues to turn out for the Savation Army ‘every week without fail’ to help the community in any way that he can, his colleagues say.

Amanda du Feu, who nominated Mr Aubin, mentioned his hard work and persistence and the lengths he goes to to support others.

She said that when he suffered a fall he was told to take two weeks’ rest but instead went straight to help out at the Salvation Army, putting other people’s needs before his own.

Ms de Fue added: ‘Every Friday morning at Gorey village he stands without fail, rain or shine.

‘Even after a treatment day he still goes to do his duty to help others.’

Name: Ann Marie McDonnell-Sweeney

Parish: St Helier

Nominated by: A. Hender

A COMMUNITY nurse who cares for the elderly is in the running for the Jersey Angel of the year award.

Ann Marie McDonnell-Sweeney is a community mental health nurse who works at Poplars, Overdale, looking after people facing mental health problems like Alzheimer’s.

She has been recognised for her kindness in helping those in care and their families.

When Mrs Hender’s mother went into care, Mrs McDonnell-Sweeney was the person to find her a residential home and was there to help all the way through.

‘Ann Marie was helpful with any problems my mother had,’ she said.

‘She would check up on her regularly, and even when she was moved to Silver Springs, she continued to check up on her.’

She added that Mrs McDonnell-Sweeney always made time for the elderly and helped out with any problems that might occur, especially during their time in care.

Mrs Hender said that Mrs McDonnell-Sweeney was a happy personality who is always smiling.

‘She’s a fantastic lady’ she added.

Name: Plémont Ward

Parish: General Hospital, St Helier

Nominated by: Salomé Donnelly

Jean Douse and the staff on Plémont Ward of the General Hospital

A TEAM of ‘dedicated professionals’ who carry out random acts of kindness for the benefit of Islanders and charities are in the running for the Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Nurses on Plémont Ward set up their Random Act of Kindness campaign in December after staff were overwhelmed with the social circumstances of two young women who were in-patients on the ward at the time.

They decided that during December, they would donate items like winter clothing and toiletries to the Shelter Trust Jersey, particularly for the two young women.

And since then, the nurses have chosen a local cause each month for the ward to support, from raising £50 for the charity Philip’s Footprints, which provides support and memory boxes to families who lose a baby, to collecting Easter eggs for Grand Vaux Youth Club.

Salomé Donnelly, who nominated the nurses for the award, also put the ward’s Sister, Jean Douse, forward for an Inspirational Leader of the Year award.

She said: ‘The team are totally dedicated professionals who carry out random acts of kindness with great compassion and empathy.’

Name: Terena Biddulph

Parish: St Saviour

Nominated by: Ivo Le Maistre-Smith

TERENA Biddulph, a team leader of district nurses in the Family Nursing and Health Care clinic at New Era, Georgetown, is in the running for the Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Ivo Le Maistre-Smith, Family Nursing’s fundraising manager, said that her work goes ‘largely unnoticed despite treating hundreds of Jersey people’.

He adde that he only realised the work they did when his girlfriend needed post-operative help. Mr Le Maistre-Smith was amazed by how the nurses ‘not only changed dressings for us but provided warmth and reassurance, leaving us in no doubt as to the high quality of their medical experience’.

‘They treat 600 people of all ages each year and they are so professional that few of those who pass through the doors are aware that Family Nursing is a charity, not part of the Health Department.

‘I have seen at first hand the nurses treat my girlfriend’s post-operative wound and I have seen some of the wonderful thank you cards sent to the nurses from others they have helped.

‘When you need Terena and her team, you’ll be glad they are there!’

Name: Jan Auffret

Age: 51

Parish: St Brelade

Nominated by: Joanna Machala

A NURSE at the maternity ward of the General Hospital has been nominated for a Pride of Jersey award.

Jan Auffret is a clinical manager of delivery suites and has been working in Jersey since 1993.

She works with women who are in labour who may have been having problems in their pregnancies and spends time with patients and their families listening and giving advice.

Ms Auffret has been recognised for her support for people going through difficult times.

Joanna Machala and her husband met Ms Auffret in 2013 on a ‘very sad occasion’.

Mrs Machala had her stillborn son with Ms Auffret by her side the whole way through.

‘She helped us through the worst experience in our lives,’ she said.

Ms Auffret was very caring of their ‘sleeping angel’ while supporting Mrs Machala and her husband, and ‘will cry with you if you need it’.

Name: Donna Le Bailly

Parish: St Brelade

Nominated by: Debbie Le Bailly

Donna Le Bailly (55) with her daughter Debbie Le Bailly (24) and Donna's aunt and Godmother, Marjorie d'Allain (95) at Maison St Brelade

A CARING mum has been recognised for her selfless acts towards family members and the community.

Donna Le Bailly spends her time giving a helping hand to the elderly, including her 95-year-old aunt.

She spends the majority of her time cleaning their houses and staying overnight if they are lonely.

‘I have rang family members, taken flowers down to graves and sometimes write greeting cards for my aunty,’ she said.

When a friend had lost her husband, Mrs Le Bailly stayed in her house for two weeks so that she would not have to be alone.

Mrs Le Bailly is part of the Les Quennevais School committee and had made Christmas cakes and the teddy for the ‘guess the name of the teddy’ competition at the school.

Debbie Le Bailly, daughter of Mrs Le Bailly, says that her mum is always there to offer a lift and to check that everyone is OK.

‘She helps with gardening, shopping, cleaning and outings in the car,’ she said.

Mrs Le Bailly has also participated in charity walks each year and has watered plants for Waitrose when she was involved in parish-in-bloom competitions.

Name: Cate Goode

Parish: St Clement

Nominated by: Roger and Sonia Baudin

Cate Goode (right) with members of the Bowel Cancer Awareness team

A ‘TRULY amazing’ cancer nurse who goes beyond her duties to care for patients is in the running for a Pride of Jersey Award.

Cate Goode, who works at the General Hospital, has been nominated for the Jersey Angel of the Year Award for helping patients through ‘difficult and emotional’ times.

The 49-year-old colorectal cancer nurse specialist, who has been a nurse for 24 years and in her current post for 15 years, has been nominated by Roger and Sonia Baudin, who described her as a ‘truly amazing nurse and caring person’.

Mrs Baudin added: ‘Roger was diagnosed with cancer in January 2014.

‘We were so lucky to meet Cate, as she is a true vocational nurse.

‘She has and continues to be a massive support and has made a difficult and emotional time so much better.

‘She made hospital visits to Roger in her own time and doesn’t take any credit for going above and beyond her duties.’

Name: Sue May

Parish: St Helier

Nominated by: Kevin Pamplin

A SELFLESS Islander, who formed the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity after an incident in 2010 changed her life, is in the running for a Pride of Jersey Award.

Sue May found herself in accident and emergency after having a brain seizure at her office desk on 9 August 2010.

It was discovered that a brain tumour the size of a cooking apple had attached itself to her skull, which meant that Ms May needed a titanium plate fitted in her head.

Following a successful operation, she began her recovery.

But the recovery was a slow process which caused a massive emotional trauma for both her and her family and friends, and it was during this time that Ms May started to think of others who have to go through the same experience.

As a result, she formed the Jersey Brain Tumour Charity, which now has more than 65 registered patients.

Kevin Pamplin, who nominated Ms May says that she is the driving force behind all the work the charity does.

‘You just can’t help but admire her courage and huge heart in helping Islanders,’ he said.

The charity provides information, support and one to one advice to those who suffer from a brain tumour.

Name: Vickie Cavanagh

Parish: St Lawrence

Nominated by: Sid Horman

NURSE Vickie Cavanagh has been nominated for the Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Her brother, Sid Horman, put her forward for the award because he believes that she deserves to be recognised for her outstanding care for the community in Jersey.

Mrs Cavanagh recently returned to work after undergoing an operation to remove a tumour from her neck last year.

She also battled breast cancer in 2008.

Mr Horman said: ‘Vickie has been a dedicated nurse all her life caring for the people of Jersey.

‘She trained at the Jersey General Hospital after leaving school and will retire this year when she turns 60.

‘For many years she has worked for Jersey Hospice Care, both at Clarkson House and visiting the terminally ill in their own homes.

‘She is known to thousands of Islanders and she is greatly loved and respected for the caring manner in which she deals with everyone.’

Mr Horman added: ‘Recently she was herself diagnosed with breast cancer and experienced the treatment herself.

‘Despite this, she has returned to work to continue to use her immense skills to help others.

‘She truly is an angel on earth.’

Name: Cleo Raphael

Parish: St John

Nominated by: Kimberly Buckley

A NURSE who dedicates her time to caring for babies that arrive prematurely or sick is in the running for the Jersey Angel of the Year award.

Cleo Raphael has been recognised for her ‘upbeat’ and cheery attitude during difficult times.

When Kimberly Buckley was rushed to surgery with her second child Felix, who came ten weeks early, it was ‘a really hard time’.

But Mrs Buckley said that Mrs Raphael reassured her that everything was going to be fine and told stories ‘to try and make her laugh’.

She said that at lunch times she refused to eat as she didn’t know when she might next be able to hold Felix, but Mrs Raphael made sure that there was a meal put aside so that Mrs Buckley would have something to eat when her baby went back into the incubator.

And when Mrs Buckley’s eldest son Dexter visited the special care baby unit she said that Mrs Raphael greeted him with ‘kisses and cuddles’ and made him feel comfortable.

Name: PC Lisa Howard

Parish: St Martin

Nominated by: Christianne Dougherty

A ‘HELPFUL’ States police officer who always has a smile on her face has been nominated for a community award.

PC Lisa Howard has been put forward for the Jersey Angel of the Year award for her positive attitude despite having a challenging job.

Christianne Dougherty, who nominated PC Howard, said that she deserved to be recognised.

Mrs Dougherty said that PC Howard is ‘very understanding’ and is ‘always there’ if someone needs help.

‘She is a very good police officer who is great for the community,’ she added.

‘There is something about her. She is always there for young and old.’

Mrs Dougherty describes PC Howard as the ‘best police officer I have seen in town’.

And she said: ‘Lisa is a very helpful person who has always got a smile on her face.

‘She is always there to help everyone.

‘She works very hard, and the job she has is a hard one, as she has to be nice at all times.’

Name: Kathy Arrowsmith

Parish: St Helier

Nominated by: Kathryn Martin

A NURSE who always goes the ‘extra mile’ and has worked ‘tirelessly’ in her profession for nearly four decades has been nominated for a community award.

Kathy Arrowsmith, who works at the Hospital as well as at the Brook Clinic, where she supports young people by providing sex and health advice, is in the running for Jersey Angel of the Year.

Fellow nurse Kathryn Martin nominated Ms Arrowsmith, describing her as a ‘kind, compassionate nurse’ who strives to provide the ‘highest standard of medical care’.

She added: ‘Each and every person under her care has received optimum and individual care.

‘The extra mile is always covered.

‘Kathy is an inspirational nurse and the stalwart of our nursing community, who can be relied on to always do the right thing.

‘I truly believe that Kathy’s efforts often go unrecognised.

‘As a qualified nurse myself, if I became ill in the middle of the night when people are at their most vulnerable, I would be grateful to see that Kathy was on duty.

‘She is a credit to nursing, ensuring when she is on duty that no stone is left unturned.’

Name: Lorna Kearney

Parish: St Clement

Nominated by: Louise Bracken-Smith

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AN ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ woman who has helped hundreds of Islanders escape domestic violence through her work at the Women’s Refuge is in the running for the Jersey Angel of the Year Award.

Lorna Kearney, manager of the refuge, which offers support, advice and safe accommodation to victims of domestic violence 24 hours a day, seven days a week, has been nominated for the accolade.

Mrs Kearney, who has worked at the refuge for more than 18 years was put forward for the award by Louise Bracken-Smith.

Mrs Bracken-Smith said that she wanted Mrs Kearney to be recognised for her great efforts in ensuring that Island women could escape domestic violence.

She added: ‘Lorna has worked tirelessly for the Women’s Refuge for over 18 years.

‘She has looked after so many vulnerable ladies, helping hundreds of families escape the awful conditions of domestic violence.

‘Lorna has dedicated her life to this cause, giving so much of her free time to raise awareness and funding for the refuge.

‘Lorna is an inspirational lady. She is someone these ladies trust and it would be nice if she was recognised.’

Meet the award sponsor: Ravenscroft

[figure caption=”Hayden Taylor from Ravenscroft” title=”8131588″ align=”right” url=”/news/2015/04/22/pride-of-jersey-2015-angel-of-the-year/attachment/8131588/” id=”1258531″]

RAVENSCROFT is a Channel Island stockbroking and invest management business.

It is predominantly involved in stockbroking for Channel Island-based clients and has 45 staff in Guernsey and seven in Jersey.

Chief executive Haydn Taylor joined just over a year ago to grow the Jersey side of the business. Ravenscroft has many local private clients and local intermediaries, such as trust companies, banks, lawyers and accountants.

The company sees itself as ‘very much part of the community’ in which it operates, which has been demonstrated by the financial support it has given to various clubs and associations.

WHY THESE AWARDS?

Mr Taylor said: ‘I think that at the end of the day, when you are drawing your clients from the community and you are making money from those clients, it’s really great to be putting something back into the community in which we live and operate.

‘It’s tremendous that the JEP is starting a local initiative of this sort.

‘In terms of the community, we would like to be recognising the sort of unsung heroes who very often don’t get recognised. We want to be seen to be giving something back to the community, as it so so important. There are many things that wouldn’t happen in the Island without that sort of support.’

WHY THIS CATEGORY?

‘There is a group of people who aren’t operating above the radar. There are a lot of people in the community going that extra mile and we would like to be involved in recognising those people for the fantastic contribution they make.’

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE WINNER?

‘We really want to see people who have gone beyond the call of duty and who aren’t really recognised for what they have done.

‘Everybody will need to think about whether they want to reward somebody for a specific act or for an ongoing commitment to the community.’

[breakout title=”Pride of Jersey”]

THE Jersey Evening Post has created the Pride of Jersey awards to recognise and honour all aspects of community life in the Island.

Celebrating everyone from grandparents and neighbours to community champions and teachers, the awards’ aim is to mark some of the wonderful day-to-day activities and achievements of Islanders who help make Jersey such a special place to live.

And in order to keep the community at the heart of the awards, Islanders will be asked to nominate potential winners and be involved in the voting and judging, via the newspaper and online.

[figure title=”Pride of Jersey 2015_FINAL_press friendly” align=”none” url=”/?attachment_id=1290857″ id=”1290857″ align=”right”]

The categories for the awards are

  • Ambassador of the Year
  • Volunteer/Fundraiser of the Year
  • Grandparent(s) of the Year
  • Community Champion(s) of the Year
  • Environmentalist(s) of the Year
  • Jersey Angel of the Year
  • Teacher of the Year
  • Unsung Sporting Hero of the Year
  • Customer Service Employee of the Year
  • Young Star of the Year
  • Neighbour of the Year
  • and Inspirational Leader of the Year.[/breakout]
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