Each year Lions clubs across Australia conduct their Youth of the Year program with the aim of finding community leaders of the future and to assist in developing citizenship and leadership qualities in students as they prepare for tertiary education or the workforce.
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The national winner receives an overseas trip, and all state winners travel to New Zealand for a youth camp, as well as visiting the winner's district.
The event has generated a lot of interest particularly after local student Molly Campbell won the national competition in 2013.
The Pambula-Merimbula Lions conducted this year’s contest on Tuesday, November 10, and was delighted to have eight contestants, six from Eden Marine High School and two from Lumen Christi Catholic College.
They were Lachlan Considine, Jaid Boundy, Daniel Holka, Ainsley Mann, Anna Auer and Verin Sampson from Eden, and Hannah Fernandez and Rebecca Browne from Lumen Christi.
Contestants are first interviewed and asked about their interests, including their involvement in the community, sport and school councils.
Their knowledge of local, national and world affairs is also covered.
The interviews are followed by the public speaking section with each student being asked two impromptu questions and then giving a five-minute speech on a topic of their choice.
The public speaking section was won by Anna Auer with a prepared speech entitled ‘Limitless’. The overall winner was Ainsley Mann with a prepared speech entitled ‘Marriage for All’.
The Lions Club of Pambula-Merimbula is appreciative of the eight contestants, as well as the time given by the judges, who this year were Veronica Northcott, Jeff Sheridan and Alan Grange, and also of the efforts of Lion Robyn Bedford who for the ninth time arranged the whole program.
Club members said they were confident in Australia’s future after listening to these young people speak so well and hearing of their involvement in local sports and their own community.
