It’s a huge day for Keeley Johnson.

The Ballan 16-year-old and Melton Specialist School student was this morning (Tuesday) named a Westfield Airport West Local Hero for her work helping children with communication disabilities.

Now she is sweating on an award ceremony tonight, to see if she will be named the 2021 Victorian Young Australian of the Year.

Westfield will give her charity – Keeley’s Cause – $10,000.

β€œI’m absolutely gob-smacked,” mum Sharon Murphy said.

β€œThis funding will be an absolute game-changer. It means more children will get help. We’ll be able to purchase iPads for kids on the waiting list.”

The Westfield Local Hero awards are based on votes from the public – and Keeley was among three winners from six finalists.

The family has no idea how many votes came in, but they do know that some of them came from Britain and many more from the Moorabool community.

Keeley was in her Year 10 class in Melton when the news came through.

β€œFirst the Diana Awards in July – and now all of this. I can’t believe it,” Sharon said.

β€œI have no idea who is nominating Keeley for these things but I do know there were multiple nominations for her in the Australian of the Year awards.

β€œIt shows the support for her charity is amazing and that people recognize that she is filling a desperate need in the community.

β€œI’m so proud of Keeley for being so selfless. It means other people don’t have to walk the hard road that she did.”

The teenager was 13, isolated from friends and being homeschooled when she came up with an idea for a charity to help other children with communication disabilities.

β€œI remember she said to me: β€˜We have a right to an education too’,” Sharon said.

β€œShe was struggling to learn in a mainstream classroom and we couldn’t obtain an iPad.”

The first devices were handed out on 11 February 2018 (pictured) during a ceremony at the North Ballarat Sports Club with Ballarat MHR Catherine King and City of Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh.

Almost 60 iPads were given out to others before Keeley finally got her own.

Tonight’s announcement will highlight the work of four young Victorians – chosen from around 3000 nominations – and the winner will go into the running for Young Australian of the Year.

β€œShe is a bit nervous about tonight,” Sharon said.

β€œIt’s the first live Zoom meeting like this she has ever done – and she will only be able to see the person asking the questions.”

To watch the online ceremony at 6.30pm, click here.

Keeley Johnson. Photo: Mia Stone Photographer, Bacchus Marsh

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Gabrielle Hodson
Author: Gabrielle Hodson

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