Junior Council votes in leadership duo

Members of the City of Greater Geelong Youth Council have voted in their junior mayor and junior deputy mayor for 2022.

Bellarine Ward representative Genaya Rowbottom, 18, was elected as junior mayor from the 12 Youth Council members who put themselves forward for a leadership position.

Genaya will appear before council four times during 2022 to present the Youth Council’s findings and recommendations, as well are carrying out mayoral duties including chairing all meetings, representing the Youth Council at official functions, and acting as the group’s spokesperson.

Genaya said the top three issues facing youth in the community today were gender and personal identity, climate change and racism.

“I am excited to be junior mayor because I aspire to work in leadership positions during my career,” the junior mayor said.

“I want to help people and be a voice for others and I look forward to learning from my ward councillors through the Councillor Connect Mentoring Program.

“I am honoured to be able to advocate for change on behalf of the youth of the Geelong region, and I’ll be looking to prioritise areas such as youth perspectives on climate change, gender and personal identity.”

Angelle Mackay, 15, of the Windermere Ward, was appointed as junior deputy mayor.

Angelle said she brings a “fierce passion and drive to implement change” and considers sexual harassment and mental health as being among the top issues facing young people in the region.

Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan congratulated the new leadership pair on their appointments.

“The junior mayor and junior deputy mayor’s election is an exciting moment. They both spoke very passionately at the induction and I have no doubt they will advocate strongly for their peers over the next year,” Cr Sullivan said.

The 2022 Youth Council will act as an official advisory committee and ‘youth voice’ to council. The group has set four priority areas for the year:

・Mental health and wellbeing
・Promoting healthy and respectful relationships
・Diversity and inclusion, and
・The environment and sustainability.

Further information can be found on the ‘geelongaustralia’ website.