Elaine Lollback’s community and advocacy work in Queanbeyan has seen her named 2025 Monaro Woman of the Year. Photo: Supplied.
For more than a decade, Elaine Lollback has been a familiar face around Queanbeyan as she has helped people in need.
She is the coordinator of St Benedict’s Community Centre, a co-operative initiative of several churches in Queanbeyan that offers support to people struggling in southeast NSW.
At St Benedict’s, Ms Lollback says being coordinator means much more than sitting in an office.
“We’re a small NGO, [my day can] go from cleaning toilets and washing dishes to talking to the Prime Minister or someone else that walks through my door,” she says.
“That’s the joy of being a small NGO.”
Ms Lollback has also been named the 2025 Monaro Woman of the Year for her community and advocacy work.
“It surprised me, because I view what I do as not being extraordinary. It’s just what people, in my mind, should do,” she says.
Four days a week, St Benedict’s opens to serve hot meals to people in need, and also advocates for people to get housing and other support services.
“Our purpose is to respond in a practical way to people who are in need, and that means we morph and change what our service does and how people can help depending on the need,” she says.
“As a service, we specialise with the people who have complex needs or find it hard to navigate other systems, like mental health [services], justice or housing.”
While the co-operative is based in Queanbeyan, Ms Lollback says people from nearby areas can also be referred or seek help from them, such as Goulburn, Sutton and Canberra.
“Homelessness is your end domino. By the time someone’s homeless, so many other things have gone wrong or failed to happen,” she says.
“The response takes the whole community to put them back on their feet. Hopefully, by doing this we can stop people from hitting that really bad crisis [point].”
Over her 13 years at St Benedict’s (and 24 years in the sector overall), Ms Lollback has found a simple truth: sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
“Sometimes it can be just as simple as listening to someone’s situation. It can be as simple as giving them tissues or a blanket or some food or a hot meal – or just the acknowledgement that they exist, that you see them as being a worthwhile human being,” she says.
“It doesn’t sound much but it makes a really, really big difference.”
Member for Monaro Steve Whan says Ms Lollback, and the St Benedict’s team, are known for going above and beyond to help.
“Elaine never asks for anything in return, and never judges anyone or their circumstances,” he said.
“She is inspiring, and someone we could all learn from. This is why I have awarded her the title of Monaro Woman of the Year 2025.”
St Benedict’s Community Centre is located at 21 Brigalow Street, Karabar (the entrance is off Anne Street). People can seek help by calling (02) 6297 5331 or emailing [email protected].
The centre offers meals between 10 am and 1 pm (on Monday to Wednesday and Fridays), while people can make appointments between 9 am and 5 pm (Monday to Friday) for support services. Crisis support is available from 8 am to 9 pm over the phone.
