Neerim District’s young achiever
Sam Watts is the reciepient of the BIll Cumming Young Achiever award.
The “Bill Cumming Young Achiever Award” is presented annually by the Neerim District Community Bank Branch to a young person who has and is exhibiting the ideals espoused by the late Bill Cumming of achieving their best in whatever they choose.
Nominees are high achievers in their studies or vocation and always strive to achieve excellence in their lives and the pursuit of their goals.
The 2016 Bill Cumming Young Achiever award winner - Sam Watts - exhibits all of these qualities.
Sam has been a resident in Neerim South for 13 years, attending Neerim South Primary School and then Marist Sion College in Warragul.
He played basketball and cricket with local clubs, which have given him strong ties with the Neerim community. He has also worked at both the local café and hotel before moving to Melbourne for studies.
Sam successfully completed his VCE in 2015 at Marist Sion College and has begun studying pharmacy at Monash University’s Parkville campus with the aim of returning to a rural community setting to apply his knowledge and skills to improve the health and wellbeing of the community.
Although the move from the small country town of Neerim South to the city has been daunting and difficult at times, Sam has managed a distinction average during his first semester.
He regularly returns home to play hockey and maintains his local connections.
During his academic studies Sam was awarded numerous accolades from a best all rounder award, the Australian Defence Force – Long Tan award to a Melbourne University Kwong Lee Dow award.
In his sporting career he was awarded the Lynne Kenworthy award for hockey, a sport he has played for more than 14 years, He not only plays the sport but also coaches and umpires.
The winner of the 2016 Bill Cumming Young achiever award was nominated by Phil Lo from the Neerim South Pharmacy.