Young achievers honoured
Six outstanding members of our community celebrated at Geelong Youth Awards
THE Geelong region’s young people have been celebrated at an awards ceremony.
Six outstanding residents were honoured at the Geelong Youth Awards, held last night in front of more than 300 people at The Pier.
Geelong Mayor Bruce Harwood was joined by local MPs Christine Couzens and Simon Ramsay at the event, which was hosted by Bellarine Youth Action Crew’s Nina Denham.
“It is vitally important that we recognise and reward the hard work that young people do in our clever and creative community,” Cr Harwood said. “It was an honour to be able to meet these young people and learn about the outstanding and diverse work they do.”
The recipients received $500 to go towards their work, education or community projects.
Geelong Youth Awards category winners: ARTS AND MUSIC: JOSHUA DE HOOG Mr De Hoog is the 24-yearold owner of Analogue Academy, a film developing studio and cafe in Geelong.
In March 2018 he organised and curated MUTT — a group exhibition about dogs where all proceeds went to Geelong Animal Welfare Society.
Mr De Hoog gifts the use of his cafe space to weekly art exhibitions and art classes.
He also donates empty film canisters from Analogue Academy to environmental group Plastic Bag Free Bellarine to be used as portable cigarette butt bins. COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP: BRANDON DELLOW Mr Dellow is an advocate for mental health, cultural diversity, equal opportunity, human rights, education and type 1 diabetes (having lived experience with the disease).
The 21-year-old from Norlane was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2014. He went on to share his story to raise awareness about mental health in teenagers. He now works in community engagement, education support and at the City’s fOrT Youth Centre.
LEADERSHIP/ROLE MODEL: TRAVIS LINES Mr Lines has excelled in his university studies in medicine and is passionate about tackling disadvantage in education.
He works with a team of volunteer tutors from universities around Victoria.
Mr Lines’ drive to combat educational disadvantage has seen him devote his summers to the VCE Summer School program.
He also writes and edits UniMelb Adventures, a blog aimed at helping students fit in at university that has an audience of more than 100,000 people. SOCIAL JUSTICE (ADVOCACY): GEORGIE DEMIR The Ocean Grove teen is passionate about social justice and has started her own business, Arkoun.
It sells handmade soaps, with all profits helping fund the construction of wash houses in Cambodia.
The 14-year-old has tested and produced six soap products, worked with a graphic design student to create her brand and has built a website with an online shop.
Within six weeks of launching her business, Georgie sold 650 units of soap, which raised enough money to build a wash house. SPORT: MITCHELL BOND
Mitchell is a 15-year-old from Leopold. At six months he was diagnosed with transverse myelitis and is paralysed from the neck down.
Each year Mitchell volunteers his time to paediatric students for their exams.
He also assists in school inclusion education days, where PE classes learn about wheelchair sports and inclusion.
In 2015, Mitchell was the sport captain at Leopold Primary School. He has won a state award and the 2015 Athletics Australia National Championship for wheelchair racing.
Mitchell is part of the 2018 National Wheelchair Basketball Championships and is an assistant coach to about 20 children in junior development programs for wheelchair basketball. YOUNG CARER AWARD:
BIANKA TURNER Ms Turner cares for her mother and her sister, who both have a range of health matters.
She is their full-time carer as well as studying full-time at The Gordon and working part-time as a swim instructor to support herself financially.