KERANG teenager, Lenny Brown is the third consecutive former Gannawarra Youth Council mayor to take out Gannawarra Shire Council’s highest youth honour.
The 17-year-old received the shire’s Young Citizen of the Year award, joining past youth mayors Ashleigh Rogers (2015) and Shelby Garlick (2014 – who shared the award with fellow youth councillor, Anthony Doyle) as recipients.
The award recognises the Kerang Christian College year 12 student’s dedication to youth and community needs.
“I am honoured to receive the award, but all of the other nominees do a good job in supporting the community.”
Miss Brown will spend her fifth year on youth council this year, building on her commitment to the group as a mentor.
During her 12-month tenure as youth mayor last year, Miss Brown instigated the implementation of a Welcome to Country ceremony at the start of each youth council meeting, as well as the creation of two community positions on the shire’s major lobby group for those under the age of 18.
Outside of youth council commitments in 2015, Miss Brown was a member of Kerang’s FreeZa group, which organises local youth-related events, volunteered at the Kerang and District Community Centre and the Kerang Baptist Church Kids Club, and joined the Lions Club of Kerang.
“I like to see people proud and happy,” she said.
“Everyone is part of the community, so why not contribute.”
It was Miss Brown’s second accolade in the space of two months, after the teenager received a Premier’s Volunteer Champions Award in November.
Other nominees for the Youth Citizen of the Year were Cooper Condely, Mitchell Gross, Jorja McDonald, Nicholas Steains and Uli Van Rensburg.
