Pair find the key to new opportunities
A new saxophone and a foray into the world of theatre lighting may be on the cards for two young award winners.
Blaise Hubbard, 18, and Thayne de Barr, 17, were two of 20 young people in care under the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki who received a William Wallace Award.
Each of them was awarded $3000 at a ceremony at Te Papa on Wednesday.
Thayne said the scholarship was a ‘‘key’’.
‘‘There are all these gates to all these different courses and the scholarship opens those gates.’’
Thayne, who will attend Wellington High School as a year 13 student next year, has tried his hand at construction with a building course through the Wellington Institute of Technology.
With his award money, he planned to try out some courses through Zeal, a non-profit organisation offering creative programmes. Thayne wanted to explore production lighting or audio engineering.
Aspiring musician Blaise has finished her last year of school at Gisborne Girls’ High and has auditioned for the New Zealand School of Music.
‘‘I play a lot of instruments, but the alto saxophone is my main one,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m hoping to use my scholarship either to go towards helping pay for my first year of uni or else I’ll sell the saxophone I’ve got, add all my money together and try find a professional saxophone. It’s something I would like to save up for.’’
A secondhand saxophone of the quality she wanted sells for between $5000 and $7000.
Blaise came into the care of Oranga Tamariki when she was 8 years old. In 2008, she was placed with caregivers Roy and Lynn and has stayed with them since.
Both Blaise and Thayne had the same message to others in similar situations.
‘‘Go for it,’’ Blaise said. ‘‘There’s no harm in trying,’’ Thayne said.
The William Wallace Awards have been running for 11 years. Young people in care or who have just come out of care can be nominated for an award by anyone in their lives.
In the past, recipients have used the money they received to go to university or learning a trade, complete an Outward Bound course or buy equipment to help pursue their passions.
Blaise received the Sysdoc Award and Thayne received the Fostering NZ Kids Award.