A 25-year career in the publishing industry, being a trailblazer for Hastings women and a dedicated volunteer has earned Fairfax Media's Janine Buesnel the 2015 Hastings Heroine award.
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Mrs Buesnel was named winner at a gala function in Port Macquarie on Friday to celebrate International Women's Day.
The fourth annual Hastings Business Women's Network event honoured seven outstanding women from across the region and raised more than $4500 for refurbishments to the women's refuge managed by the Port Macquarie Hastings Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Service.
Special guests included the Speaker of the House of Representatives the Hon Bronwyn Bishop, Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams who is a co-convenor of the event and Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.
Karen Archer, president of the Hastings Business Women's Network, said the evening highlighted the inspirational stories of local champions who have encouraged effective action in advancing and recognising women in line with the International Women's Day theme of Make It Happen.
"The movement for gender equality was originally seen as a struggle led by women for women," Mrs Archer said.
"In recent years, men have begin to stand up in addressing inequalities and discrimination faced by women. As a community, we can all work together to make it happen."
Janine Buesnel is best known as the face of the Port Macquarie News. She began her career in the publishing industry 25 years ago and for the last 16 years, has been regional manager overseeing numerous Fairfax mastheads and websites.
Mrs Buesnel has this year taken up a new position, and made the big move south, to lead mastheads in Victoria and Tasmania as business manager.
During her time in the Hastings, Mrs Buesnel has played a leading role in her local community. She has been a Rotarian since 1999 and in that time recognised with the Sapphire Paul Harris Fellowship honour.
She is an inaugural member of the Hastings Business Women's Network and Mayor's Sporting Fund and one of the leading ladies on the Local Organising Committee for the Australian Ironman.
She is a supporter of the Glasshouse and an advisory committee member of the Hastings Business Enterprise Network, a committee member of the Hastings Cancer Trust and Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.
The judges said Mrs Buesnel is an inspirational leader, mentor and role mode.
"Janine's ability to improve awareness of women's issues has made a significant contribution to equality and respect for women in our local community," the judges said. "The success she has achieved in her chosen career portrays women in a professional and capable light, while the spirit of generosity she displayed through her numerous voluntary roles has been inspirational.
"Janine has gone above and beyond what most individuals would do and give for their community, and her efforts have not gone unnoticed."
Other finalists in this year's Hastings Heroine awards were - Kate Ferry, Sonia Fingleton, Jennifer Peters, Jessica Laing, Karen Pikett and Nicole de Vulder.