Thursday, March 13, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Proserpine Lions Club Host Youth Of The Year Final

On Sunday, the Proserpine Lions Club proudly hosted the Zone 9 Final of the prestigious Youth of the Year Australia program, showcasing the exceptional talents of four inspiring local students. The event, held at the Whitsunday Leisure Activity Centre, was a resounding success and highlighted the incredible potential of the young people in our community.

The four entrants, all representing different schools in the Whitsunday region, were:

Allegra Bradley – Proserpine State High School
Amelia McKay – St Catherine's Catholic College
An Nguyen – Bowen State High School
Kodi Mackie – Collinsville State High School

The competition was fierce, but it was Amelia McKay who emerged as the overall winner. Representing the Whitsunday Lions Club, Amelia will now go on to represent Zone 9 at the District level in Townsville, where she will compete against the best from across the region.

The event saw a series of powerful speeches and impromptu topics that demonstrated the skill and maturity of all the participants. Kodi Mackie, from Collinsville State High, was named the Public Speaking Winner for her captivating speech titled "Adult Time, Adult Crime." Her impromptu talk on the value of kindness also left a lasting impression on the judges and audience.

The event was a true celebration of the region's young talent, and the Lions Clubs of Whitsunday, Collinsville, and Bowen, along with the dedicated teachers and judges, deserve recognition for their hard work in organising this memorable day.

A special thanks also goes to the staff at the Whitsunday Leisure Activity Centre for providing such a welcoming and impressive venue.

Congratulations to all the entrants—Allegra, Amelia, An, and Kodi—for their outstanding performances. The Lions Clubs and the wider community are incredibly proud of these remarkable young women, and we look forward to seeing Amelia represent Zone 9 at the upcoming District finals.

Representatives from local schools competed at the Youth of the Year Finals.
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox standing with Kodi Mackie who won the Public Speaking Award and Amelia McKay who was the overall winner

Photos supplied

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