Rare Voices Australia (RVA) congratulates rare disease advocate, Andrew Bannister, who has been announced as the winner of the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award at the Young Achievers Award WA. Andrew also won the People’s Choice Award. Thank you to everyone who voted for Andrew.
RVA thanks the Hon. Matthew Swinbourn MLC, a long-time rare disease champion, for his attendance and support of Andrew at the awards ceremony. We also thank Dr Kristen Nowak, a member of RVA’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee, for representing RVA at the event.
Nominees in the Masonic Care WA/Freemasons WA Community Service and Volunteering Award category are community service workers or young volunteers who, through exceptional leadership, demonstrate initiative beyond what is expected of them.
Andrew was born with several rare brain malformations, including Periventricular Nodular Heterotopia (PVNH). In 2020, he organised 35 landmarks in Australia and around the world to be illuminated for Rare Disease Day. He continued his amazing work with illuminations for Rare Disease Day in 2021. Andrew is also the current Australian Paracycling Road Series Champion.
