Esther Mines is the youth development officer at Upper Hunter Community Services and recently applied for a St George Bank Start Something Local grant.

St George chose three finalists in each area and put the candidates to the public, who voted via Facebook.

Ms Mines had suggested the grant be used for a road safety community awareness day at Denman Skate Park – and the residents agreed.

Muswellbrook St George bank manager Lea Pharoah presented her with a cheque for $5000 to make the event a reality.

The awareness day provides valuable information to youth about road and bike safety, as well as urging motorists to slow down in high activity areas, like Denman’s newly-built skate park.

Ms Mines believes the concept will greatly benefit the community.

“It was great [to win], I felt really privileged,” she said.

“When I first started in this job it was a passion of mine to do these things but I didn’t have any money.

“I think they get left behind a bit in Denman.”

Ms Pharoah said the program was also a great benefit to the bank.

“St George decided to give $100,000 worth of grants across the regions,” she told the Hunter Valley News.

“It’s a chance for St George to give back and get more involved in the community.”

Ms Mines is very excited about the initiative, which she is planning to deliver in 2014.

“I’ll be mainly doing it by myself but bringing together local businesses and getting all the community involved as much as possible,” she said.

For more information on the upcoming event, or to find out how you can lend a hand, phone Esther on 6542 3555.