Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has this month presented the 2026 Catholic Social Services Western Australia Employee and Volunteer of the Year Awards at St Mary’s Cathedral, following the annual Mass for staff of the offices, organisations and agencies of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth.
This year – staff from across the Archdiocese gathered Friday 7 August at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre to honour the outstanding contributions of two remarkable women— Carey Brown and Doris Zembonetti.
The occasion was a poignant reminder of the power of faith in action, as the CSSWA recognised individuals whose lives and work embody the Catholic values of compassion, service, and love for others.
The ceremony, which began with opening remarks and an introduction to the awards by Chief, Mission Enhancement and Outreach, Dr Debra Sayce, and prayer by Bishop Sproxton, was not only a time for recognition but also for reflection on the importance of service in the Christian life.
Carey Brown, an Administration Officer with Catholic Homes at Trinity Village, received the Employee of the Year award, following some 18 years with the organisation.
Doris Zambonetti received the ‘Tom Tranter’ Volunteer of the Year award for 23 years as Coordinator of Rosary Care, the Doubleview Parish care program developed by Catholic Outreach.
Tom Tranter was a founding member of Personal Advocacy Service who passed away in 2018.
Catholic Homes Executive General Manager Mission Richie Perera nominated Mrs Brown.
“Through periods of significant change, management transitions, resident admissions, losses and the complexities that accompany life in aged care, Carey has remained a constant source of support and stability,” Mr Perera explained.
Mrs Brown sits with families through anticipatory grief and settles anxious new residents into care. Residents, families and staff seek her out when they want someone to listen. Mr Perera said she solves problems quietly and does not look for credit.
Catholic Outreach Director Marietta Russo said the list of what Ms Zambonetti does was long enough that she could only offer a snapshot.
Ms Zambonetti visits grieving families, organises meals and helps with families with funeral arrangements.
She drives parishioners to the supermarket, the bank, the hairdresser and medical appointments, and sits with them while they work out aged care options.
She waters gardens, brings in washing, and turns up with flowers. She delivers the parish newsletter and Holy Communion to people who can no longer get to Mass. She coordinates the volunteers who cook and deliver meals, then cooks and delivers her share of them.
“Doris demonstrates the Catholic values of human dignity and solidarity in every aspect of her ministry as Coordinator of Rosary Care, the Doubleview Parish care program,” Ms Russo said.
“She consistently goes far beyond what is expected, offering her time, her compassion, and her heart so that every person she encounters experiences the love and care of Christ,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Bishop Sproxton passed on congratulations to Carey and Doris, and his thanks to everyone working and volunteering across the agencies and organisations.
“When we speak about the mission of the Church in this Archdiocese, this is what we mean. It is not an idea. It is someone who knows every resident by name, and someone in a car on a Tuesday morning driving a parishioner to an appointment.”
“Neither Carey nor Doris set out to be noticed. That is usually the way with the people who hold a community together.”