North Lakes community Archives

Care at home, help for children struggling at school and support for women rebuilding after domestic violence are among the services represented by Westfield North Lakes’ 2026 Local Heroes finalists.

Christine Neiland of Rainbow Care Home Services, Diana Green of Hope Ventures and Mimi’s House, and Lou Feltham Smith of Miracle Mums Movement are the three finalists for Westfield North Lakes. Voting closed on 20 September, with the successful Local Hero due to be announced on 20 October.

The successful finalist will receive a $20,000 grant for their organisation, while the other two finalists will each receive $5,000.

Christine Neiland makes care more inclusive

Christine Neiland leads Rainbow Care Home Services, which provides aged care and disability support with a focus on inclusion and individual choice. The organisation was established in 2020 and provides in-home aged care, NDIS services, support coordination and plan management, alongside specialist services for LGBTQI+ clients.

Its Rainbow Support services include personal care, help with daily living, transport, respite, community access and domestic assistance. Staff delivering the service are either members of the LGBTQI+ community or allies. Neiland’s work focuses on people who may have experienced discrimination or isolation and who want care that respects their identity, relationships and independence.

Rainbow Care Home Services is also a registered NDIS provider, with its registration listed through to May 2028.

Diana Green helps children reconnect with school

Diana Green works with primary school-aged children who are at risk of disengaging from education through Mimi’s House. The program supports children from Prep to Grade 5 who face barriers to learning, using a small-group, home-like environment to build confidence, social skills, resilience and stronger engagement with school.

Children attend on the same day each week across a full school year, giving them continuity and regular contact with staff and volunteers. Mimi’s House operates in Logan and Moreton Bay, including a site at Rothwell, and works with schools, families and local communities.

Hope Ventures, which supports the program, says more than 500 children have taken part in Mimi’s House since it began.

Lou Feltham Smith supports life after abuse

Lou Feltham Smith founded Miracle Mums Movement after her own experience of domestic and family violence. The Redcliffe-based charity focuses on women who have moved beyond the immediate crisis stage and are trying to rebuild confidence, identity and independence after abuse.

Feltham Smith developed the organisation around survivor-led and trauma-informed support, including workshops, peer connection and programs intended to help women regain a sense of control over their lives. Her own experience shaped the direction of the charity. After leaving an abusive relationship, she identified what she saw as a gap in support for women after separation, when practical safety concerns can remain alongside longer-term emotional and financial pressures.

Feltham Smith has also contributed to public discussion around coercive control and post-separation abuse. In a Queensland parliamentary submission, she described her experience as a survivor and mentor to women leaving abusive relationships through Miracle Mums Movement.

Different needs, practical support

Neiland’s work centres on inclusive care, Green focuses on children at risk of disengaging from education, while Feltham Smith supports women rebuilding after abuse. Their organisations operate across different parts of the Moreton Bay community, but each finalist has developed practical services around people who can face isolation, disruption or reduced access to support.

The successful 2026 Westfield North Lakes Local Hero will be announced on 20 October.

Published 21-Sept-2026

Across North Lakes, many mums will be celebrated this Mother’s Day, but for Caitlyn Pyatt, the day carries a deeper meaning shaped by resilience. It’s not about grand gestures, but small victories — a pain-free afternoon, a successful recovery, a moment where her 8-year-old son, Jack, can simply keep up with his friends.

A different kind of motherhood

Motherhood, for Caitlyn, has always come with an added layer of uncertainty.

Little Jack Pyatt was born with a small growth on his shoulder blade.

At two years old, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic bone condition, known as Multiple Hereditary Exostoses, requiring regular surgeries throughout his childhood.

The disorder causes benign cartilage-capped bone tumours to grow from bone surfaces primarily near growth plates, leading to pain, deformities, limited joint motion and a slight risk of turning into a slow-growing bone cancer.

Between home and hospital

Jack has been admitted to hospital nearly every second year to remove or reduce the bone growths that affect his movement, all performed by paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sarah Murgatroyd at Redcliffe Hospital.

Each procedure is delicate, each recovery uncertain.

“When the tumours grow, they cause pain and reduced mobility.”

“The surgeries involve using specialised tools to remove additional bone growth, requiring precision as surgeons work with smaller ligaments, muscles, nerves and arteries in a confined space.”

In some cases, the bone can be easily removed from its position, while in others, it must be shaved down, she explained.

“Throughout these procedures, the surgical team remains mindful that they are working on a child – the ligaments, muscles, nerves, and arteries are significantly smaller than those of an adult, the workspace is much more confined and requires extreme precision,” she explains.

“The most difficult moments are when Jack goes under anaesthesia and wakes up disoriented and in pain during recovery – it’s more than I can handle as a mother,” Caitlyn says.

Without the surgeries, Jack would not be able to walk properly and his fine motor skills would be impaired, she said.

“The hardest part is seeing him struggle with basic tasks like writing or running. It’s heartbreaking when he gets frustrated because he can’t keep up with his peers,” Caitlyn says.

“It truly teaches you never to take simple things like movement, sight and hearing for granted,” she added.

Holding onto normal

Back in North Lakes, Caitlyn works hard to keep life feeling as normal as possible. School drop-offs, homework, sibling dynamics — all continue alongside hospital appointments and recovery periods.

Caitlyn is a property manager at Ray White North Lakes. She has managed the demands of her career while ensuring Jack receives the medical care he needs.

Her family includes husband Ashley, stepchildren Nathan (14) and Mahalia (13), and daughter Dakota (9). Nathan also has the genetic condition and has undergone several surgeries, including a fixator on his arm.

“I feel very fortunate to have my husband and such a strong support network so that I never have to face those moments, or any of this journey, alone.”

Despite the challenges, Caitlyn avoids wrapping her children in cotton wool.

“We don’t overprotect him,” she says. “Jack sets his own limits.”

It’s an admirable philosophy — one that gives her children space to grow, even within constraints.

The balancing act

Like many mums, Caitlyn juggles work at Ray White North Lakes and family — but with added unpredictability.

Working in property management, she relies on clear and transparent communication when Jack is in hospital, letting clients know when family needs come first.

When Jack is in hospital, she keeps clients informed about her availability.

“I’m upfront with clients if I have appointments scheduled when Jack is in hospital,” she says. “They understand that if I’m not responding as quickly as usual, there’s a personal matter requiring my attention.”

Still, it requires constant adjustment, and it’s a mental load familiar to many mothers, intensified by medical uncertainty.

Mother’s Day is in the everyday things

For Caitlyn, Mother’s Day isn’t defined by flowers or cards. It’s found in the everyday things. It’s in resilience, patience, and the ability to keep going through the hardest moments.

“It truly teaches you never to take simple things like movement, sight and hearing for granted.”

This year, like every year, she’ll likely spend it the same way she spends most days — showing up, supporting her children, and finding strength in the small wins.

Many mothers will recognise that kind of love.

Published 5-May-2026

Tag: North Lakes community

North Lakes Local Heroes Finalists Support Inclusion, Education and Recovery