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General News

2 May, 2024

Lions host youth awards

The Carisbrook Lions Club hosted the Lions Youth of the Year state finals at the Maryborough Education Centre on Saturday, with the event deemed a success by organisers. The annual event aims to foster a friendly environment for young adults aged...

By Maryborough Advertiser

Lions Youth of the Year V district state finalists Oliver Baitch, Joanna Kallis, Josie Marriott, Lucy Eales, and Fanella Collins. Photo: Supplied.
Lions Youth of the Year V district state finalists Oliver Baitch, Joanna Kallis, Josie Marriott, Lucy Eales, and Fanella Collins. Photo: Supplied.

The Carisbrook Lions Club hosted the Lions Youth of the Year state finals at the Maryborough Education Centre on Saturday, with the event deemed a success by organisers.

The annual event aims to foster a friendly environment for young adults aged 15-18 to learn real-life skills such as leadership, public speaking and initiative.

Winners from five district finals were tasked with completing a 30 minute interview about their academic, sporting and community skills, answer two impromptu questions, and provide a five minute speech on a topic of their choosing.

Local judges David Sutton, Jefferson Hoober, Tony Macer, Kathryn Duxbury, and Grace La Vella awarded the overall winner to Oliver Baitch from Albury, who will be heading to Darwin for the national finals.

Lions Youth of the Year V district state coordinator Kristie Box said the event is beneficial for all participating students.

“I have watched kids go from club finals to state finals and to see their confidence blossom and the experience they get is amazing,” she said.

“When I check in with the kids on how they felt about it all, they love it and they are grateful for the opportunity.

“When it gets time for them to look for a job or they are about to go to university, they have already had that experience of interviewing and public speaking to prepare them.”

Carisbrook Lions Club president Jefferson Hoober, who has helped organise multiple district finals, said the competition is a great event for the community.

“The Carisbrook Lions Club has always put our hands up to host this event because we a central and active lions club in Victoria, we normally get the district final but this year we got the state final,” he said.

“We love doing [the event], and it was a massive success thanks to MEC, especially for David Sutton’s support and Jenna Townsend who did the catering and everyone is already asking us whether or not we can host the district final next year.”

Mr Hoober said the local lions club will continue to be proactive in having a positive impact in the community.

“We are forever trying to get something happening in our local community, just by hosting events like this, we get more members that join up to help us with more events for the community,” he said.

“Some people look at lions and think it’s just a barbecue or a working bee group, but we try to be more proactive whether we can — there is always something to do at lions.”

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