On that experience, Molly says, “I didn’t see the purpose of it [school], and it wasn’t ’til I got this opportunity to go overseas and see kids just like myself in Fiji walking an hour to school with no shoes, no breakfast, and just absolutely making the most of their opportunity that I decided, I have to be here at school … I can’t swap places and bring these kids here, but I can actually make the most of what I have in front of me, so I’m going to do that. That totally shifted my attitude towards school.”

The Fiji Project donates clothing, education supplies and hygiene and sanitary supplies to children and young women. It also holds workshops to empower young women and educate them on the importance of hygiene.

In 2018, Molly was named Nambucca Valley Young Citizen of the Year for her work with The Fiji Project, other volunteer work and involvement in humanitarian programs.

She says, “I always want to be working in a way that can be doing something for others. That’s the dream … I have just been doing everything I can to be able to give back.”

After completing her law and mediation degrees, Molly went on a surfing adventure with some friends, but it seems, she’ll always find her way back home.

“I absolutely loved growing up in Nambucca. You grew up on the beach, at the beach, at the river. I love that a community definitely helped to raise me.”

For young people who may feel limited or uncertain of their path, Molly’s advice is, “As long as you’re determined to achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve, Nambucca being a small town, will not stop you from doing that.”

You can now watch Molly’s story, other stories from local heroes and the full feature documentary film, Inspire U: Stories from the Valley, on our Inspire U project page. We’ll be adding new stories regularly, so come back soon.