CELEBRATING its 50^th year in 2016, the Lions Club of Medowie this week hosted the Lions Club Youth of the Year.

The Lions Club of Australia hosts the yearly completion to assist young people to improve their skills before entering the workforce or other endeavours.

A high level of academic, leadership, sporting, public speaking and citizenship achievement is sought in its winners.

By emphasising these qualities, it hopes to provide outstanding role models for the youth of Australia and an overall increase in the confidence of young men and women.

Medowie Lions Club president Jan Dobbie told News Of The Area, “The competition is designed to encourage, foster and develop interest in leadership and the qualities required to take an active and constructive role in the community.”

Entrants first participate in a private interview for thirty minutes, where they are assessed on leadership, sporting and/or cultural activities, citizenship and community involvement, academic, general knowledge and personality.

Entrants then participate in the public speaking section, where they are given two impromptu questions to speak for two minutes on, before speaking for five minutes on a pre-rehearsed topic of their own choice.

This year’s judges were community members; Miranda Gillett, Kevin Tomlinson and Libby Dingle.

Medowie’s student entrants this year were: Shannon Riley from Hunter River High School, Victoria Tyrrell Herbert from Irrawang High School, Kathleen Churchill from Medowie Christian School and Sam Pollack from Medowie Christian School.

The public speaking winner was Sam Pollock.

The overall winner was Kathleen Churchill.

 

By Rachael VAUGHAN