Originally Published December 13 2022

THE region's youth were recognised on Friday night for their tremendous contributions to the community at the 2022 Buloke, Loddon and Gannawarra Youth Awards.

Held as a gala-style event at the Boort Memorial Hall, youth aged between 12-25 were celebrated for their efforts in creativity, leadership, resilience and teamwork in our communities.

All award nominees were acknowledged and posed for photos with their respective mayors and councillors.

“The name youth awards is a bit misleading,” master of ceremonies Jemma Baxter said.

“This event isn’t about winning or losing – it’s about recognising that young people have positively contributed to our communities.”

Fellow MC Deaken Fawcett said the night helped break down stigmas relating to youth in local communities.

“Youth aged 12-25 make up a large part of our community and have as much influence on our towns as our towns have on them,” he said.

“In the media, we hear stories about delinquent young people, but evenings like these change those perceptions by celebrating young people and the fantastic things they're doing in our community.”

The large crowd was treated to the music of local artists Fawcett, 18, from Kerang, and Elias Lanyon, 19, from Boort, before future leaders and creative minds mingled and swapped ideas.

Event organiser and youth program assistant at North Central LLEN Molly Meadows heaped praise on all nominees.

“To all the young people nominated, you all deserve a huge congratulations and we look forward to seeing what you do in the future,” she said.

“I’d also like to thank everyone who nominated a young person.

“We couldn’t know about all these young people without you.”

Award winners were introduced by each shire’s Young Citizen of the Year, including Taylah Clements of Gannawarra and Tessa Fitzpatrick of Buloke.