Pictures: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
THE voluntary contributions of young people across charity, sport, arts, learning and community sectors were recently recognised at the 2019 Wattle Range Council Youth Week awards.
Millicent locals Tara McNicol, Jack Francis and Brooke Littlewood were among the list of award winners, alongside Kangaroo Inn’s Ellie Leopold and the Beachport Lifesaving Club.
Tara and the Beachport Lifesaving Club were recognised as joint winners for the Contributions to Community award after judges found it difficult to decide between the two.
Wattle Range Council economic development manager Roger Babolka said Tara’s spirit of volunteering and giving back to the community made her a worthy winner for the award.
“She single-handedly coordinated donations and compiled 60 handbags full of toiletries, vouchers and other gifts that were distributed to local services to assist women who were victims of domestic violence,” he said.
“She now plans to continue on her work and gather further donations suitable for men.”
Meanwhile, the lifesaving club were honoured after a significant number of individuals were nominated for the awards and council decided it was important to recognise the group as a whole.
“The Beachport Surf Lifesaving Club has core values including respect, teamwork, courage and inclusiveness,” Mr Balbolka said.
“Every one of the youth representing these values are a credit to themselves in the way they assist the club.
“Volunteering as a member of the club is not just the matter of going to the beach on a Sunday, it is a huge commitment behind the scenes in terms of training, meetings, club development camps and other community exercises.”
Jack Francis was a worthy winner in the Achievement through Arts and Culture award category, with judges commenting on his “outstanding photographic talents” and his seven-year participation in the Wattle Range Photographic Exhibition.
“Jack has been successful in the exhibition every year since first entering,” he said.
“He has won seven youth awards and five mayoral youth awards and he has featured in the Wattle Range calendar every year.
“Jack is not only an outstanding photographer, but he is also very humble and strives to improve and use innovative photography.”
Former Kangaroo Inn Area School student Ellie Leopold was the recipient of the Learning Success award for continually improving herself or assisting others in their learning outcomes.
In Ellie’s nomination, she was described as being a friendly, reliable and responsible person.
Mr Balbolka said she was honoured for her highly successful and decorated completion of Year 12 studies, as well as completing a traineeship with South East Property Sales and Management.
Brooke Littlewood received the Overcoming Challenging Life Situations award in recognition of her determination and stamina in overcoming significant life challenges.
Brooke was honoured for her work in mental health awareness and suicide prevention through sharing her own story, as well as her community involvement and fundraising for the cause.
All winners received $200 prize money and a glass plaque.
The Wattle Range Youth Recognition awards are sponsored by the Millicent Medical Clinic, Glen Carron Transport and Kimberly-Clark Australia, Millicent Mill.
