A lifelong Canberran, Karen Schlage describes winning the People’s Choice Award in the 2024 Lifeline Canberra Spirit of Canberra Awards as “overwhelming”.

The Spirit of Canberra Awards celebrate, acknowledge and inspire positive change within the Canberra community, recognising the efforts that improve the social, economic, environmental, or cultural well-being of the community.

The inaugural event was previously run as the Women of Spirit Awards for almost 20 years.

The ceremony was held at Old Parliament House on Thursday 24 October with canapes and a grazing table on hand, and the champagne flowing.

Ms Schlage told CD she was overwhelmed and so grateful for the community’s support.

“I think it does say a lot for how emotional pregnancy loss is and how many people it has touched in the community,” she said.

She became a champion for families experiencing pregnancy complications and loss after losing her two babies, Charlie in 2018 and Sophia in 2019.

Through volunteering opportunities, her advocacy resulted in the opening of an early pregnancy unit at Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

Ms Schlage also secured an election commitment from ACT Labor to provide a second early pregnancy unit at Northside Hospital and a promise to pilot a birth companion program in the ACT.

Another woman who won an award on the day and was inspired by her children was Carol Jennings.

She received the Spirit of Resilience Award, which celebrates those who have overcome adversity and are bettering their community using their experience.

 Ms Jennings runs WaterWombats, an adapted swimming program that draws on Allied Health disciplines and aqua therapy.

The single parent lives with a disability, and her three children—a 9-year-old and 10-year-old twins—are all neurodivergent

“They love WaterWombats. They feel like they’re a cornerstone of what the program is, they’re mini chief executive officers,” she said.

“They help me approve the new instructors or the new therapists that join the team.”

Ms Jennings said the program was born from her children struggling to adapt to swimming lessons in the community.

“I sort of sat there and thought, I can’t possibly be alone in this,” she said.

The social worker said she was unaware of who nominated her for the award and felt she had “zero chance” of winning.

“Because the group of people in the room were just so amazing in what they do and who they are as people,” she said.

“So, I’m very honoured that the judges thought that I was worthy of the award. I was just honestly not expected to be named.”

The remaining winners were Tristan Morris in the Spirit of Hope category and Threesides Marketing in the Spirit of Impact category.

There were more than 20 finalists across the four awards. 

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