Nikki Kiss was awarded an OAM in the Australia Day Honours list for her service to Cowra, particular her volunteer work with the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre (CINC), the Cowra Council Access Committee, Bilyara Aged Care Residence and Cowra Riding for the Disabled.
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Cowra doctor, Peter Davidson was also a recipient of a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Nikki’s other notable achievements include founding Chance’s Clothing Project (CCP) and helping residents as an ATO tax help volunteer.
She said the accolade didn’t seem real at first.
“Thought it was a hoax,” she said.
“I thought this sort of stuff doesn’t happen to me, this is too big.”
Nikki said volunteering has brought out the best in her.
“I think it’s facing the adversities and making the most out of every situation,” she said.
“I think it gives you a great ability to then be able to help others and have a greater empathy for others, and it actually, I suppose in a way, it makes you feel a little invincible too.”
She says her skills in project management have assisted her volunteer work, particularly with Chance’s Clothing Project, a volunteer group who sew clothes and accessories for premature and stillborn babies.
“I just decided to use my skills to help other people without pay where I could still be at home looking after my son (Blake),” she said.
“I’m not necessarily that good at sewing or anything like that but I use my project managing skills, put this platform together for them, give them the avenue and people are grateful that it’s there.”
She said she would use her OAM to call for more people to become volunteers in Cowra and hoped it might have some influence to assist Cowra in gaining new facilities, such as a community owned horse riding arena or government grants.
“I see it as being hopefully allowing me to be able to benefit the community more than what I do now,” she said.
Nikki would like to thank her dad, mum, brother, husband David, the ladies involved with CCP, everyone from the organisations she is involved with and “everyone in the community that has supported her”.
“One thing dad has always said to me and it’s still relevant today - don’t expect of others what you do yourself or you will always be disappointed, but always support other people to achieve their best,” she said.
“Encourage them, support them, help to give back whatever they can, to be the best of themselves.”
She said she sees her OAM as the beginning of even more work for the Cowra community.
“I’m a bit of a dreamer, but sometimes the dreams come true, just gotta keep at it,” she said.
“I’ve only just left the starting block, there’s so much more I can do.”
