Wednesday, 10 September 2025

 Ella GEORGE (Lara) (10:11): Last week I was delighted to attend the 2025 Geelong Youth Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate young people who are making significant contributions in our community. Huge congratulations to all those nominated. There were over 147 nominations this year across nine different categories. Congratulations to the winners: James Logan, who won the Active Achievement Award – and good luck to James when he competes in the Deaflympics in Tokyo later this year; James Herbert, who won the Arts and Music Award; Rezai Rehman, who won the Citizenship Award; Ruhaniat Parri Kaur, who won the Cultural Awareness Award; Alexander Serra and Ethan Vines, who both won the Innovation Award; Jesse Moore, who won the Inspiration Award; Mackenzie Sinclair, who won the Leadership Award; Nick Riordon, who won the Unsung Hero Award; Xavier Cunningham, who won the Volunteer Award; and Liam Hair, who won the Judges’ Award. A recognition award went to Alexander Scott, an incredible 12-year-old who is turning his experience with bullying into a movement for change. Alex established Shoot for Kindness, Block Out Bullying, an awareness campaign to encourage everyone to be kind to one another.

I would like to finish with the words of Jesse Moore, an advocate for youth housing, mental health and the LGBTQIA+ community, who deservedly won the Inspiration Award. Jesse’s strength and resilience are so inspiring. In their speech Jesse delivered a message to anyone who is struggling. They said, ‘There is hope, there is change coming and there is a life waiting for you.’ Thank you to Jesse and all these incredible young leaders for inspiring me and so many across our region.