RISING STARS Shire announces winners of 2019 Youth Awards

THE Surf Coast Shire has celebrated outstanding achievers and community contributors with the presentation of its
fifth annual Youth Awards.

The six recipients topped a record field of entries across four categories, with three young people sharing honours in sport.

Nominees were surrounded by family and friends as Cr Martin Duke led presentation of awards in the council chambers on Saturday. Lorne youth ambassadors Emily Ross and Kaye Pulido compered the event.

Cr Duke said the volume and quality of nominations made it clear that plenty of young people were doing great things across Surf Coast Shire.

“In academic life, in art, in sport, in community work and in so many other ways you are inspiring others and showing the way.”

This year’s awards included a new category for academic achievement. The recipients were:

* Academic – Haylee Heard. 2018 dux at Surf Coast Secondary College, recipient of a college academic excellence award and an Australian Defence Force Long Tan youth leadership and teamwork award. She is studying at Melbourne University after
having received a Kwong Lee Dow Scholarship

* Art – Jett Belle Graham-Russell. A member of Torquay Dance Academy since it opened in 2013 and in the past
year achieved honours in the worldrecognised Cecchetti Exam. At the academy she is an admired mentor for younger age groups.

* Community – Sam Suendermann. Helped run a range of events supporting women in surfing and has undertaken study to explore the social value of surfing to the Surf Coast. She recently completed filming and directing a movie highlighting the importance of the ocean and environment to traditional owners.

* Sport – Jarrah Harris-Moore. Sails at the royal Geelong Yacht Club and at 14 was highest placed female in under-18 Victorian sailing championships. She supports young and new participants at the club and discusses the sport of sailing while taking community members on the water

* Sport: Xavier Huxtable. A member of Torquay Boardriders Club and in the past year became the first Australian to win the International Junior Grom Search. He is ranked second pro junior in Australasia and volunteers an estimated 75 hours a year for his club, and

* Sport: Olivia Jenkins. Has excelled for Torquay Hockey Club and Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club. She has played in four consecutive Victorian junior hockey championships and is a Geelong Premier League Squad member. She is also an under-17 and under-19 champion lifesaver and volunteers for both clubs.

Shire mayor Rose Hodge was also at the awards ceremony, alongside Members for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney and Stuart Grimley.