Youth Recognition Program

Congratulations to the December 2024 Young Person of the Month...Kenzie Dawber!

Kenzie is a passionate young person, driven to make positive change in her community. Since becoming part of the Bannockburn P-12 leadership body and joining The Golden Plains Youth Activation Committee in 2023, she has been doing just that.

“I want to make change in the community, for it to be a safer place – more inclusive and accessible for all people,” Kenzie said.  

“Bannockburn is a really nice place to live, I know my neighbours well and I love connecting with community members.”

Kenzie especially loves meeting new people which she does through her work at a local business and through the Youth Activation Committee. In 2023, Kenzie volunteered her time as a photographer to help celebrate National Volunteer’s Week by meeting and hearing the stories of local community members, producing exceptional photographs that capture these stories.  

Kenzie hopes that the work she does in her community will help change negative perceptions around young people.

“I encourage any young people interested in making a change to consider joining the Youth Activation Committee,” Kenzie said.  

Kenzie carries herself with integrity, placing compassion at the forefront of all that she does. She should be extremely proud of all that she has achieved so far.

Congratulations Kenzie, you truly are making a positive difference in your community!

Congratulations to the November 2024 Young Person of the Month...Declan Davidson!

Declan is a strong young leader within the Golden Plains Community. He is being recognised for his participation in areas of activism and community development.

Declan is a valued member of the Golden Plains Youth Activation Committee where he is able to demonstrate his leadership skills while showcasing the passion he holds for his local community. He has recently been appointed Youth Mayor of the Committee, further displaying his keen interest and ability in youth leadership. Declan works collaboratively with other members of the Youth Activation Committee, striving to shape Golden Plains into a place that is inclusive and celebrates all.

Declan was also recently selected to be a part of the Geelong Youth Parliament, a program that allows young people the chance to debate and vote on issues that matter to them. Declan was instrumental in the passing of the Youth Parliaments bill, advocating for education on disability discrimination within the workplace. He spoke at Parliament House in Melbourne for the passing of this bill, addressing a number of senior parliamentarians.

Declan carries himself with integrity and humility in all that he does and should be extremely proud of his achievements so far.

Congratulations Declan!

Congratulations to the July Young Person of the Month…Mikayla Wekerle!

Mikayla is a member of the Rokewood Football Netball club where she is recognised for her achievements and excellent sportsmanship.

Demonstrating her good leadership and kindness to others, Mikayla assists younger team members at the club in building skills and confidence, all the while being appreciative of the more experienced club members by taking on and learning from their feedback. Her skills and good sportsmanship have led to her being selected as a representative for the Central Highlands Netball Team and she has also earnt a spot in The Academy of Sport at her school.

Mikayla is very excited to be recognised by the community for her achievements and is extremely proud of what she has accomplished. She has shown great commitment to her sporting endeavours, expressing how hard she has worked to obtain these opportunities.  

Mikayla loves playing netball for Rokewood because of how welcoming and supportive everyone is towards each other. She enjoys being a young person in the local community as she can connect with friends, participate in activities, and has access to a range of exciting opportunities.

Congratulations Mikayla!

Congratulations to the Young People of the Month for June, who are Bannockburn College student leaders Scarlett Gillett, Jessica Richens, Heath Skinner, Ann Bernardo, Kenzie Dawber, Zaxton Prosser and Noah Jennings. 

On Friday 22 March 2024, Bannockburn College student leaders were proud to represent all students, children and teenagers at Golden Plains Shire Council’s Community Engagement Workshop session to provide valuable feedback in support of the refresh of the 20-year Community Vision 2040 plan which will help to benefit Bannockburn and surrounding areas. 

The students spoke with purpose, vision and pride, ensuring that the voices of our youngest community members were heard on the day. The students thrived in this opportunity to be heard and valued knowing that their opinions are shaping a better future for themselves and others in the local Golden Plains community.

Congratulations to the Bannockburn Student Leaders, and we look forward to seeing more great things from you in the future.

Image: Pictured left to right: Scarlett Gillett, Jessica Richens, Heath Skinner, Ann Bernardo, Kenzie Dawber, Zaxton Prosser, Noah Jennings.

Congratulations to the May Young People of the month...Clover Roberts and Sullivan Martin!

This month, we’re celebrating two remarkable young people as part of our Youth Recognition Program. Congratulations to Clover Roberts and Sullivan Martin!

Clover and Sullivan are active members of the Woady Yaloak Athletics Club in Haddon, and show excellence in attendance, event placing, and improving personal bests. They are recognised for their commitment to track and field athletics and the involvement with the club outside of competing (set up and pack up, good sportsmanship and encouraging junior members). 

Clover has been a member of the club for seven years and encourages younger participants to get involved at the club. “People at the club are very encouraging and nice, they watch each other compete and cheer each other on. There is good sportsmanship, and everyone knows each other which creates opportunities to connect,” said Clover.

Sullivan has won club champion a few times, but this time is extra special because of the nomination. “It’s nice because people have noticed what I do at the club. I am competitive and will try my best but am still encouraging toward other team members and competitors, it’s friendly rivalry,” said Sullivan.

Congratulations Clover and Sullivan!
 

Congratulations to the March Young Person of the Month… Lachlan Robinson!

Lachlan stands out as a shining example of a young person, acknowledged by his peers and colleagues alike who wish to celebrate his passion and commitment to his work and community. 

After finishing year 12 in 2022, Lachlan was one of 3 successful candidates securing a traineeship facilitated by the Brotherhood of St Laurence at Golden Plains Shire Council. Throughout this role, he traversed across various departments of Council, working towards his Certificate III in Business Administration, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the organisation’s inner workings.

During Lachlan’s rotation in the Youth Development Team, it became evident that he has a natural flair for youth engagement, quickly becoming a favourite face at the Golden Plains Youth Hub by both staff and young people alike. Lachlan’s ability to connect and support young people through thoughtful discussion and patient instruction was a skill he never knew he had, making him a highly valued team member.

Lachlan has said that through his traineeship journey, he was able to learn many new things he never thought he would and do things he never thought he could. 

Lachlan is currently very busy extending his learning by studying Information technology and entertaining his menagerie of 2 dogs, chickens, and a gaggle of geese.

Congratulations Lachlan!

Congratulations to the December Young Person of the Month...Harley Murfitt!

Harley is no stranger to recognition, starting his work advocating for his hometown of Meredith as a year six student in 2020 when he saw a need in his community to provide more recreational facilities for young people.  

Harley remains humble despite appearing on three major television networks when Council was successful in securing funding for the recently completed Meredith Skate Park and Pump Track. 

Now in year nine at St Joseph’s College in Geelong, Harley describes his hometown of Meredith as “a great place filled with nice people and friendly locals.” Not one to sit idle, when Harley is not giving the pump track a workout, you can find him mowing lawns through his very own lawn mowing business! 

Volunteering for Steam Rail Victoria, Harley stokes the fires of locomotives across the state and aspires to follow in his grandfather's footsteps of becoming a train driver. 

Congratulations Harley, and we all look forward to seeing the success of your next advocacy endeavour.

Saxon is an active member of the FReeZA Youth Events Committee and has contributed to helping run a number of events throughout the community. Most recently Saxon held the role of ticketing officer at the Battle of the Bands Event in Inverleigh, where he greeted attendees and checked tickets at the door. 

Saxon is also part of the Bannockburn College Band and has performed at many events in the community including singing at the Golden Plains Careers Expo and more recently he performed in Bannockburn Colleges Spring into Music event.  

Saxon is praised for his hardworking and passionate nature and demonstrates excellent leadership skills within the community.  

Congratulations Saxon! 

Skylah Kent is an active participant in various youth programs. She proudly serves as a member of the Golden Plains FReeZA committee and holds an orange belt with one stripe in Karate. Additionally, Skylah is an integral part of the Bannockburn P-12 College Middle Years Rock Band and College Band.

Skylah's commitment extends beyond her musical and martial arts endeavours. She dedicates her time to attend weekly FReeZA meetings, where she contributes to event planning and shares her innovative ideas. She believes that FReeZA provides an excellent platform for young voices to be heard and for accomplishing meaningful initiatives tailored to youth in the community.

Skylah would like the community to know that a lot of hard work and dedication goes into planning and executing FReeZA events. Despite weekly meetings, it can take months to bring these events to fruition. 

Additionally, Skylah takes pride in advocating for individuals with disabilities. She acknowledges that they may face unique challenges and often require extra effort to accomplish tasks. However, she is resolute in her belief that individuals with disabilities, like herself, are fully capable of achieving anything that others can.

Skylah feels honoured to have been nominated, as it acknowledges her considerable efforts and underscores the importance of not underestimating young people. 

Congratulations Skylah! 

Holly is an oustanding digital creator who has a passion for showcasing agriculture through video editing and production. Holly lives on Emu Hill Farm where she brings quality photo and drone video footage to life through her business Emu Hill Ag, capturing the beauty of agriculture in the area.

Despite facing illness in the past 12 months, her resilience and creative focus has been inspiring. Holly’s passion has seen her receive an incredible amount of community support to which she feels very thankful for.

Holly is grateful for the community support she has received and feels humbled to be recognised for her passion and dedication in capturing the beauty of the region through social media and her business. It means a lot to Holly that there is a platform to recognise such remarkable young people who live amongst us in the
Shire.

Congratulations Holly!

If you would like to support Holly in her incredible work, you can follow her on Instagram: @filmsbyholly_ and @emuhillag.

Image Credit: Jane Draffin

Congratulations to the July Young Person of the Month...Jayden Scheier!

Jayden is an integral and valued member of the Youth Activation Committee, FReeZA Youth Events Crew and supporter of Youth Development programs. As a young person, Jayden has demonstrated an outstanding ability and commitment to seizing opportunities to empower and engage young people and is a profound example of how valuable young people are as leaders in the community. Jayden’s contributions to the Golden Plains community, particularly in advocating for young individuals, have been significant. 

When asked about the recognition, Jayden expressed pride and a sense of achievement. He believes his support and dedication are appreciated. 

Jayden also emphasises the importance of the Golden Plains Youth Hub in Bannockburn, which benefits both himself and other young people. However, he feels limited by the lack of transportation and desires to do more. As a young person in the community, Jayden is often called upon to act as the voice for youth and a positive role model.  

This at times, adds a certain level of pressure on Jayden, however, Jayden remains mature and determined to meet expectations. He values the opportunity to be an active member of Youth Development programs and appreciates the sense of community it provides through diverse activities.

Congratulations Jayden. 

Congratulations to the June Young Person of the Month...Jemma Mizzi!

Jemma has demonstrated exponential growth in her time being involved with the Golden Plains Youth Hub’s activities and groups. She is a leading member who’s not afraid to put herself out there and always brings passion to everything she does.

Jemma is a dedicated youth leader in the groups she’s involved in, and takes every opportunity to improve her community.

When asked what it means to be a young person in her community, Jemma talked about caring about other young people, ensuring that all their perspectives are seen and to be the voice for young people who may not always speak up. 

Jemma feels proud to be recognised as an individual and as a team member in the groups she’s involved in.

A fun fact about Jemma is that she absolutely loves cats!

Congratulations Jemma.