Shire’s youth impact awards open again

YOUNG people aged between twelve and eighteen are being encouraged to sign up for the second round of this year’s Mayoral Youth Program’s Community Impact Awards.

Run twice a year, the awards seek to recognise youth from across Golden Plains Shire who have done something great for an individual, group or an environmental cause.

“The Community Impact Awards is all about recognising and celebrating the positive contributions young people make to our communities every day,” said mayor Cr Owen Sharkey.

“We’ve heard of some fantastic volunteer efforts from local young people during the COVID-19 crisis, and I look forward to seeing them publicly recognised through this great program.”

As part of the process nominees will need to have completed their community impact within six months prior to the submission date, show it was unpaid, unrewarded or not reimbursed, that it had a positive outcome and that it was fair, safe and inclusive.

Awardees from round two of this year’s process will join those from round one at a formal event celebrating all recipients and will receive a framed certificate of achievement and a $50 Officeworks voucher.

The winners from earlier in the year have not been publicly acknowledged due to impacts on large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cr Sharkey said that just means an even bigger event when possible.

“Council received some fantastic nominations during round one of the program, and while he haven’t yet been able to acknowledge these community-minded young locals, if restrictions continue to ease, we’ll be able to do just that with all nominees of the program later this year,” he said.

Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/mayoral-youth-program for more information. Nominations close Friday, 31 July.