Fifteen young people between 12 and 25 years of age were recognised at the Geelong Youth Awards at Geelong West Town Hall on Friday March 31.
The awards ranged across the areas of leadership, cultural awareness, community work, sport, arts, music and youth development.
The 2023 winners, selected from 89 nominations (young people were able to be nominated in up to two categories) across the 10 categories, include:
Active Achievement – Competitive hearing-impaired swimmer Dylan Logan has a reputation for encouraging and inspiring other children with disabilities to participate in sports, be involved in their sporting community and strive for excellence.
Arts and Music – Kai D’Orsa, spent seven months planning sessions to inspire and engage young people in Geelong to be involved in an innovative arts project at the Geelong Gallery.
Citizenship Group – 1st Belmont Venturer Unit Ukraine Fundraiser – Group members Kaitlyn Biro, Angus Taylor, Liam Biro, Miri Barnes, Alistair Breaky and Will Cole completed odd jobs to raise $3000 to support youth in Ukraine.
Citizenship Individual – Arhlia Cvetkovski developed a community group that focuses on health and wellbeing through regular exercise. She has built a group of 50 who meet at Point Lonsdale beach each Sunday morning to walk or run.
Cultural Awareness – Dedicated to ensuring his community felt connected to their new country, through sport and various activities, Moo Thay Wyar Blue, was instrumental in the organisation of the largest sports tournament within the Karen and Karenni communities.
Inclusion – Sarbjeet Singh has demonstrated commitment and determination in supporting international students to settle in Geelong, including organising community events, study support groups, social groups, cultural events with traditional gatherings and demonstrating leadership skills.
Inspiration – Proud Aboriginal person Jonathon Kelly connected with the broader community by sharing his culture and supporting the Aboriginal community to engage in cultural activities, sporting carnivals and activities.
Leadership – Breanna Beckley has made a significant impact on gender equality in the community, hosting the first Female Festival of Sport in the Barwon region, supporting young women to participate and be celebrated for their successes in both football and netball.
Unsung Hero – Jasmine Van Der Muellen is currently studying VCE, whilst juggling the role of a young carer for her family, particularly her two younger sisters, who both have ASD.
Volunteer – Impacted by the number of people struggling to feed their families during lockdown, Lottie Hughes partnered with Drysdale Foodbank by riding her bike, with trailer attached, to collect donations for delivery.
