Three cheers for our inspirational young leaders!

THE community has gathered to celebrate some of the city’s best and brightest young people.

The City of Ballarat Youth Awards were held last Friday with Amy Hobbs and Gemma Gale named as the winners of the major awards for ages 18 to 25 and 12 to 17 respectively.

Gemma has sought alternative studies at SEDA College, volunteers and fundraises for Relay for Life, works as a swim teacher, coaches basketball, and has self-published a book.

Amy volunteers with St John Ambulance, has recently become operations officer for the Ballarat division, and has contributed more than 160 hours so far this year.

“All the winners continue to contribute an incredible amount to Ballarat and make this city a better place to live,” said City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson.

“To have more than 100 people nominated shows that there are so many young Ballarat citizens doing extraordinary things.”

The compassion and care award was awarded to Maggie Phillips, Jay Van Nus won the equity, diversity and inclusion award and the young creative award, and the group project award went to Thrive Cast.

Influential adult volunteer was Dairong Shan and influential adult worker went to Louise Rippon.

The leadership in sport and recreation award went to Megan O’Beirne, Gemma Gale won the personal growth award, the positive leader award was won by Memphis McBain and Thu Nguyen received the youth volunteer award.

The awards have been running since 2005 and aim to recognise young people who make valuable contributions to the Ballarat community.

They are supported by partnerships with the Ballarat Foundation, Basketball Ballarat, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ballarat Youth Services Network, Committee for Ballarat, Community Bank Buninyong, Compassionate Ballarat, Creative City Ballarat, headspace Ballarat, Highlands LLEN, Western Bulldogs, Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Y Ballarat and the State Government.