Sandra George photographed at the Hall of Fame awards in Melbourne on 11 May, with another awardee, David Fitzpatrick.CITY of Greater Dandenong’s South East Business Network Manager, Sandra George, last month received the prestigious AME Jim Watkins Award for her outstanding contribution to the pursuit of manufacturing excellence.
The award, promoted by the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), was presented to Sandra by the State Minister for Trade and Industry Martin Pakula at the 2009 Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame gala dinner.
Sandra’s first contact with manufacturing was in 1991 when she headed up the South East Taskforce – a Federal Government initiative set up to address record unemployment in the Dandenong region at that time.
Inspiring local manufacturers using innovative forums, workshops, round tables and networks, Sandra and her team created an additional 3000 jobs over the term of the program.
With the job creation target being exceeded and unemployment significantly reduced, the Federal Government did not extend the term of the Taskforce. However, the City of Dandenong, a stakeholder in the taskforce, employed Sandra to continue her work as part of the council under the banner of South East Business Networks (SEBN).
Throughout her time with SEBN Sandra has been heavily involved in promoting industry to education and was instrumental in the creation of the M:Tec Program which was ultimately adopted by the State Government.
Her devotion to manufacturing and education was recognised with the establishment of a special Caroline Education Foundation Fund in her name.
The Sandra George Manufacturing Award is to create base funding for perpetual awards to be made to students engaged in studies in the manufacturing sector in the south-east region of Melbourne.
“I have been able to do this work only with the support of the City of Greater Dandenong,” Sandra said on Wednesday.
Sandra is a life governor of Dandenong District Hospital, deputy chairwoman of South East Development, chairwoman of Greater Dandenong Community Safety Committee, inaugural chairwoman of the Hand Brake Turn program designed in collaboration with Victoria Police to create awareness of career paths in Automotive for disengaged youth, a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Award 1997, recipient of a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellowship in 2005, on the Victorian Roll of Honour for Women 2005, a life member of Little Athletics, judge of the Premier Regional Business Awards, and awardee of the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce Premier Regional Business Award – Hall of Fame.
In the early 1990s the Dandenong region faced its share of challenges, including job opportunities and community safety, yet in this environment Sandra George earned broad acclaim for successfully tackling these hard issues.
Sandra’s philosophy is one of action and empowerment.
“I have tried very much to be a role model by getting in and doing what’s needed and giving women the actual ‘tools’ and confidence – not just theory – to implement what they’ve learned.”
As a community leader, Sandra George has always been there to support and empower women, young people and marginalised communities – in business, in learning and in life.
