Uniting Church Synod of NSW and ACT moderator Rev Faaimata Havea Hiliau, Uniting NSW/ACT Board chair Liz Nicol, Member for Murray Helen Dalton, Meg Herbert representing Rev Harry Herbert, and Uniting NSW/ACT CEO Tracey Burton.
When Helen Dalton became NSW Member for Murray, she vowed to fight for our communities.
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Her determination in that regard has been acknowledged formally, with Mrs Dalton last week being presented with the 2025 Uniting Political Courage Award.
She is particularly recognised for her bold stance on gambling, including supporting calls for NSW pokies clubs to stop trading as RSL clubs.
The award is presented by Uniting NSW/ACT to Australian political leaders who demonstrate integrity, principle and a commitment to social justice - especially when the stakes are high.
“We want to recognise and celebrate political leaders who refuse to stay silent, who stand up for social justice and fairness and live out Uniting’s core values, even when it costs them personally or professionally,” said Uniting NSW/ACT’s director of external relations Emma Maiden.
“That’s why we chose Helen – she's shown the conviction and compassion this award celebrates.
“Helen was selected in recognition of her bold and principled leadership on gambling reform.
“Since her election in 2019 as the Member for Murray, Helen has consistently stood with regional communities harmed by poker machines and gambling addiction.
“She demonstrated great courage during the 2023 state election campaign, declaring that gambling had reached ‘excessively high levels’ and committing to reform despite pressure from vested interests.”
More than 150 nominations by members of the public were received, with a diverse range of brave individuals from across the political spectrum.
Mrs Dalton said she was “deeply honoured” to receive the Uniting Political Courage Award.
“Standing up for fairness and social justice isn’t always easy, but it’s always the right thing to do,” she said.
“I’m grateful to Uniting for recognising the importance of honesty and integrity in public life, and I share this award with every regional Australian who’s spoken out for what’s right, even when it was hard.”
Ms Maiden said with “everything happening in the world right now, we need this sort of political courage more than ever”.
“We know that it takes courageous leadership to champion the sort of social reforms needed to disrupt entrenched disadvantage in Australia,” she said.
The Uniting Political Courage Award is inspired by the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award (named after JFK’s 1956 book profiling eight US senators who risked their careers for the greater good) which honours elected officials who act with bravery and integrity in embracing unpopular positions, often in opposition to pressure from constituents, political parties, or other external interests.
Helen Dalton MP receiving the award last Wednesday night.
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