Award for grassroots efforts

IN Anna Krohn’s family growing up, everything was on the table from spiritualism to language to social issues.

Now with decades of humanitarian work behind her those topics are interwoven in everything she does.

As an educator and humanitarian, Ms Krohn said her efforts stem from an acknowledgement of her own roots and those of a greener variety.

“So much of the common good takes place at the grassroots, and supporting volunteers and people with their creative initiative is one of the most important ways of changing the culture,” she said.

“For me it’s often been obvious that people on the ground, if you give them an insight, can achieve great things.

“It’s good to see how much everyone has in common in their attempt to learn important things about life.”

Ms Krohn describes her work as a “tangled web of miscellany,” and it will see her receive a Medal of the Order of Australia for this year’s Queen’s Birthday honour list.

A Soldiers Hill resident for almost 10 years, Ms Krohn holds many roles from board chair of groups like the Caroline Chisholm Library to column-writing for Catholic Weekly.

She credits a spiritual inspiration as a key factor in her work with organisations like Australian Catholic Life and her role as the national convenor of Anima Women’s Network.

Ms Krohn said she’s happy to receive the award in honour of the groups and people she’s worked alongside.

“An award like this is not individualistic, it’s an acknowledgement of everyone involved,” she said.

“I’ve been really blessed to walk into the right place at the right time to work with the groups I do, so I’m proud of my network.

“I don’t really know if it’s been solely my own efforts but I’ve been a link in the chain.”