South Coogee disability advocate and community fundraiser Marie Tesoriero has been named the 2025 Fred Hollows Humanitarian of the Year for her work to promote inclusion and raise funds for causes that support people in need.
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Born with multiple disabilities, she underwent three major surgeries at Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, an experience that led to her commitment to giving back.
Now aged 45, she channels that determination through her social enterprise, Made by Cool Marie, where she creates and sells handmade art and craft pieces.
Proceeds from her sales have funded medical and community programs; to date her enterprise has raised more than $16,000 for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation, with her work reaching buyers across Australia, Germany, England and the United States.
“I want to improve the lives of people with a disability,” Marie said.
“My message is that even though I have a disability, I am able and worthy because to this day, there are still people, when they see a person with a disability, they instantly think lesser of us. I want to show that we are capable and worthy.”
Marie Tesoriero has also fundraised for Meals on Wheels, Guide Dogs Australia, Parkinsons NSW and Northcott Disability Service. She volunteers on the Bayside Council Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) Working Group, helping to make her local area more accessible and inclusive.
Her efforts were recognised at a ceremony hosted by The University of Sydney, where she was presented with the national honour by Nakari Thorpe, a journalist, Fred Hollows Foundation ambassador and Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Gooreng Gooreng woman.
Speaking at the event, Gabi Hollows, Founding Director of the Fred Hollows Foundation, congratulated Marie and the award nominees.
“Fred was an ordinary person with an extraordinary dream,” she said. “He worked tirelessly to end avoidable blindness, here in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities and overseas. The Fred Hollows Foundation continues his legacy, and I am proud to say that Fred’s vision lives on.”
The awards ceremony also recognised seven Junior Ambassadors from across Australia as part of the Foundation’s Humanity Award, which celebrates Year 6 students who show kindness and empathy in their communities.
The event was supported by Specsavers, which donated $50,000 to help The Fred Hollows Foundation continue its global mission to prevent avoidable blindness.
In 2024, the Foundation delivered more than 8.1 million eye screenings, distributed 16 million doses of antibiotics for trachoma, performed 168,000 cataract operations, and conducted education programs reaching more than 3.6 million people worldwide.
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Marie’s connection to Randwick’s hospital and her advocacy with Bayside Council demonstrate her long-term commitment to improving lives in her community.
Published 12-November-2025
