Awards focus on city’s future

PEOPLE from across the region gathered last week at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts to celebrate the winners of the 2022 Ballarat Youth Awards.

With nearly 100 nominees across 13 categories, City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said the awards are a great way to mark the efforts of local young people.

“Cities like Ballarat will only continue to get better because of the next generation. Just a pat on the back and acknowledging them tonight can have years of positive benefit,” he said.

“I have no worries for our future at all because our young people have got it figured out. They’re creative, welcome, non-judgemental, they care about each other and they’re hardworking.

“Having some awards to recognise those things is really important because it’s too easy to take young people for granted, so we have to let them know they’re important and we value them.”

Running since 2005, the awards aim to highlight young people’s contributions to art, sport, community, and recently, equity and inclusion in the region.

The event, delivered by Together Enhancing the Achievements of Many, or TEAM, was their first in-person awards ceremony after online delivery in 2020 and 2021.

Young comedian Ethan Cavanagh served as MC, with past Youth Awards alumnus Gabriel Gervasoni and Harry Buck serving as ambassadors.

Millie Collins was the recipient of the Compassion and Care Award and the Major Award for ages 12 to 17.

A previous Youth Awards nominee and member of TEAM, she said the evening served as validation for her efforts.

“Winning those awards was exciting and it made me feel quite proud to be acknowledged for a lot of the effort I’ve put in over the years,” she said.

“Especially as a young person, often people get ignored, but with these awards I feel so seen and heard. It’s a really great feeling.”