"Sometimes you just need to feel that you've got other people to bounce off, to talk to...” Community-building mum named Orange Local Woman of the Year

When Amorette Zielinski moved to Orange in 2013 with her husband, young son, and pregnant with her second child, she found it an isolating experience.

Seeing a need to connect and support other mothers like herself, Amorette created a Facebook group, Central West Mums, that has since grown into an important online resource for thousands of local mums, and a community where they can feel supported and connected.

“The communities of the Orange electorate are filled with many amazing women, who do so much for the benefit of their community,” said Member for Orange Philip Donato MP in Robertson Park on Tuesday, February 21, as he officially presented Amorette with the 2023 Woman of the Year Award. 

“It’s never an easy job in identifying just one amazing woman from literally hundreds of superwomen across the electorate, but this year one local stood out.

“Her goal was to strengthen community connection, and with thousands of local mums having organically joined and participated with one another on this support network, it’s  safe to say Ami has well and truly succeeded.”

From the online platform, Amorette has gone on to launch the popular in-person events, Mumfest Central West and the Central West Mummy Awards, Mr Donato said.

“Amorette’s online resource was a godsend for locals during the socially isolating restrictions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, no doubt keeping many local mums sane in an otherwise anxious period,” he said.

“I congratulate Ami on her amazing achievement, and for the selfless and ongoing devotion in supporting hundreds of families across the communities of the Central West.”

Receiving the award, Amorette said she felt incredibly humbled and grateful to be surrounded by so many women who help make a positive impact on our community. 

“I only hoped, really, that our community would be maybe 100 members or so, as I keep being reminded, and now we have been able to bring several thousand together to feel supported and connected,” Amorette said.

“Mums are moving to the area and feeling very concerned and nervous about asking how they can meet people and finding out that they're absolutely inundated [with] this oozing of friendliness… to help them settle in and offer to meet with them. 

“As a mum or a parent, carer, you know, you feel like you've got so many challenges to manage and juggle, and sometimes you just need to feel that you've got other people to bounce off, to talk to, to ask for their advice and we continue to do that on our online platform.” 

Mr Donato said he would be accompanying Amorette to the NSW Women of the Year Awards event in Sydney on March 9.