Photo: This year's youth award winners (L to R): Alexis McCarthy, Drew Sumpner-Johnston, Kathryn Fletcher, Olivia Payne, Sienna Agnew, Hayley Watt, Tristian Bennet
Congratulations to the winners of 2022 MidCoast Youth Awards!
The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the MidCoast Council Chambers at Yalawanyi Ganya last week.
The MidCoast Youth Awards recognise outstanding young people, aged 12 - 24, for their valuable contributions to the community across seven categories: the arts, community service, leadership, sports, wellbeing, resilience and entrepreneurship.
The 2022 winners are:
Leadership Award: Alexis McCarthy
Community Services Award 12-17 age group: Shiloh Herzberg Nicholls
Community Services Award 18-24 age group: Tristian Bennet
Resilience Award: Drew Sumpner-Johnston
Sports Award: Sienna Agnew
Arts Award 12-17 age group: Kathryn Fletcher
Arts Award 18-24 age group: Hayley Watt
Entrepreneur Award: Olivia Payne.
Each winner received a $250 cash prize, sponsored by a local community group, organisation or business and we acknowledge the contributions of this year's sponsors; Friends of the Gallery, Rotary Club of Lower Mid Coast, MidCoast Council, LJ Hooker and Grow a Star Foundation.
Council's Manager Libraries and Community Services, Alex Mills, said he was inspired by the winners and noted the diversity of talent in the region.
"It's so important that we celebrate the outstanding leadership of our young people and the contributions they make to our community," he said.
"Recognising their efforts is a great way to encourage our young residents to keep striving to make difference in the MidCoast and beyond."
The MidCoast Youth Awards are a partnership initiative of MidCoast Council and PCYC Taree.
The annual awards are part of Council's goal to connect young people to their peers and the wider community, recognise the contributions young people make to the community, improve youth wellbeing, create opportunities and give our younger residents a voice.