Banagher's Cora shortlisted for community champion award

Banagher woman Cora Stronge-Smith has made the shortlist of finalists as Calor search for their first ever Community Champion. Votes are now being cast by members of the public and the eventual winner of the inaugural nationwide competition will be revealed on September 4 next. Cora was a founder member of the Girl Guides in Banagher in 1973 and is described as a "positive, forward focussed individual". She has acted as district, area and regional commissioner over the year and sat on the Girl Guide National Executive for six years. Dedicated to local voluntary work, Cora is also interested in drama and ensuring that credit union services are available for all those in the community. If Cora gets more votes than other finalists and becomes Calor Community Champion 2012 she will get €1,500 and a bursary of €7,500 to give to her nominated charity. To make that happen votes can be placed by all members of the community through the Calor Facebook page at www.facebook.com/calorireland until August 20 next. On that date four champions and two wildcards will go through to the final phase, before the eventual outright winner is revealed in early September. The Calor Community Champion will be chosen by a judging panel consisting of Hector " hEochagáin, sports broadcaster Micheál " Muircheartaigh and Calor's Jennifer Fagan.