One of the great satisfactions as Bass Coast Mayor is attending functions that honour citizens in the area. Last week was no exception.
I recently attended the presentation evening for the Young Community Leader’s Scholarship Organised by the Southern & Coastal TAFE Alliance. This alliance is made up of GippsTafe and the Chisholm Intitute and we thank them for their support of youth in our community.
There were seven finalists from across South Gippsland who are all outstanding young people already making a remarkable contribution to their communities. Their participation in sport, community organisations and events demonstrate their leadership qualities and potential to become real role models.
The fact that there couldn’t be seven winners was a real shame as any one of them would have been a worthy winner of the award. The judges could not split the efforts of Kristy-Lee Jones of Korumburra Secondary College and Jesse Poulton of Newhaven College and both were awarded a $2,000 scholarship to use for their tertiary education.
The activities these students are involved in reads like a list of achievements of a person three or four times their age – participation in Lions, Legacy, World Vision, Red Cross, swimming, Student Representative Committees, football, netball, other sports and local theatre.
These students, like many others have just started their VCE exams. I wish all graduating Year 12 students the very best in their exams and for their future as they begin tertiary education, enter the workforce or take a much deserved year off.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kristy-Lee and Jesse, their classmates and Year 12 students from across Bass Coast for their contribution to the area over the years of their schooling. I wish them good luck and safe journey – wherever their lives will take them.
Cr John Duscher, Mayor
Bass Coast Shire Council
