Georgia Ayson

GROWING up in rural Southland, Gore High School pupil Georgia Ayson loves everything outdoors.

The 18yearold says she loves to get involved and experience as many things as possible.

‘‘After moving to Gore when I was 7, I took up ice skating, and competed in various competitions around Southland and Otago.

‘‘Then during my time at Gore High School, I took up trap shooting. I just like to try things out.’’

Squash has been a longstanding passion since she was 11.

‘‘I play interclub, and also volunteer on Sunday afternoons to help with the junior coaching.’’

Georgia attended the Lions youth leadership course held at Borland Lodge this year, thanks to sponsorship from the Hokonui Lions Club.

“During the camp I became more confident in myself. I also met an amazing group of people from around Southland and Otago,’’ she said.

Time management has loomed large this year since she was made deputy house captain of McNab, where she helps organise sports day events, the Prefects’ Variety Concert house act, and other house competitions. She is also a school prefect, where her responsibilities include helping to organise the variety concert and school ball, and contributing to the year 9 buddy system.

Georgia was proud to represent her patch when competing in last year’s OtagoSouthland Junior Young Farmer Competition, where she and her teammate placed second. This allowed them to progress to the national finals in Christchurch.

In her spare time, Georgia takes pleasure from designing garments, some of which she has entered into the Hokonui Fashion Awards and HETTANZ awards. Last year she completed level 3 in fabrics technology.

“I was thinking about hiring a ball dress this year but decided to make myself one instead.”

Next year, Georgia intends to study management in Dunedin.

Achievements: Prefect (2022); McNab deputy house captain (2022); Prefects’ Variety Concert coorganiser (2022); school ball committee (2022); Lions Youth Leadership Course (2022); Gore junior squash coach (2022); Southland Secondary School Sports squash 1st (2019, 2022); Level 1 and 2 with excellence endorsement; merit endorsed in mathematics with statistics level 2 (2021); achieved endorsed in english and economics level 2 (2021); 1st in mathematics with statistics (2021); 1st in fabrics (20192021); 2nd in tourism (2021); 2nd in economics (2020); 3rd in geography (2020); merit endorsed in science 101, economics, geography, and mathematics level 1 (2020); Otago/ Southland Junior Young Farmer 2nd (2021); HETTANZ Southland Secondary Schools Make and Model craft first place (2019); Chief Scout Award (2019). Role model: My parents, aunties and uncles. Hopes for the future: To study management, eventually working in different places around the world.