![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/06\/CancerCoucilatNRLInd_25935.jpg\")
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“When we started, people thought dragon boating was just for middle-aged women with breast cancer,” she said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve worked really hard to build a group and activity that promotes inclusion, health and fitness across genders.”<\/p>\n
Dedication and a sense of humour have helped her support hundreds of people along the way.<\/p>\n
She has been involved with the Lennox Head Residents Association, established the local Boomerang Bags initiative to encourage recycling and community connection and has become involved with Landcare projects.<\/p>\n
Wilcox said bringing people together had become the common thread through her volunteer work.<\/p>\n
“People say my strength is getting all my ducks lined up in a row,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes the ducks go astray, but you line them all back up again and connect people.”<\/p>\n
Wilcox believes strong communities are built through connection, particularly by supporting women who often become the driving force behind local initiatives.<\/p>\n
“If you’ve got healthy, supported women, they’re the ones who get things done in a community or hold a community together,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LENNOX Head resident Monica Wilcox has been named on the state government’s Hidden Treasures Honour Roll in recognition of her work supporting cancer initiatives in the community. Wilcox was nominated by Ballina MP Tamara Smith after previously being recognised as the electorate’s Local Woman of the Year. “It was a definitely a surprise, I’m normally […]<\/p>\n