'Very humbling': Port Macquarie-Hastings Citizen of the Year Erin Denham

She was awarded the honour at the 2024 Australia Day Awards on January 26 at the Glasshouse.

MAD is a not-for-profit charity organisation which aims to support disadvantaged and marginalised people living on the Mid North Coast.

The charity provides emergency assistance in times of need and connects social services with those in need.

Originally from the Northern Rivers, Erin and her husband Rob, relocated to Port Macquarie almost 15 years ago.

"I'm close to notching up 15 years here, but I think it's 20 years to be considered a local," she said.

Erin was involved in a similar project to MAD in the Northern Rivers and said that's what "planted the seed" to start a charity here.

"We started MAD in 2016 and it was on the back of wanting to provide opportunities to people in our community and give back to people that are experiencing hardship and who are vulnerable," Erin said.

"That started with the Orange Sky Laundry project which was to provide a free mobile laundry service to homeless people.

"Our mission then broadened after the bushfires and the floods."

Erin said initially there was a perception that Port Macquarie and the Hastings region didn't have a homelessness issue.

"That's because a lot of people here experiencing homelessness don't want to be seen, but we knew there was a need here.

"Our mission is to help anyone who is doing it tough without any judgement."

As well as her work with MAD, Erin is also the PE teacher at MacKillop College and coordinates the sport program at the school.

She taught and supported MacKillop student and Young Citizen of the Year 2024 Tess McWilliams in her rugby league pathway which saw the 18-year-old selected for the U18s Australian schoolgirls' rugby league team in 2023.

"I absolutely love my job and a lot of what we do with MAD does stream through into our culture at the school," Erin said.

Erin said being nominated and being announced as Citizen of the Year was "a huge shock".

"Being alongside so many other worthy other nominees, I didn't expect it," she said.

"It's very humbling and I love that our charity is being recognised because of the enormous amount of work our volunteers do."

MAD volunteers are currently organising the fourth Ride the Wave Festival which will be held in Port Macquarie in April.

"All of the money made through the festival goes back into the charity to ensure MAD is viable for the following year," Erin said.

MAD has grown to over 200 volunteers and Erin said the community has been a great support for the charity.

"I'm very overwhelmed and amazed at the amount of support we've received over the past week since the award was announced," she said.

"We have a very giving community."