General News
9 March, 2025
Duo advance in Lions Youth of the Year
Students from colleges in Ararat, Kaniva, Nhill and Murtoa met in Horsham on Sunday March 2 to compete in the Lions Regional Final of the Lions Youth of the Year event 2024–25.
The Horsham Lions Club meeting rooms were filled with Lions members, family, friends and teaching staff supporting each student.
Lions regional chair, Nhill Lion Shirley Blackwood, emceed the event.
Murtoa student Adelle Weidermann exhibited a passion for her community during the interview and the public speaking components of the day.
Judges found Adelle to be a driven and motivated individual, proactive in her community and education.
The judging panel was impressed by William Delaney, of Marian College, Ararat, who demonstrated a commitment to connecting and networking in his community by playing guitar in a band with peers and embracing opportunities, such as applying for Lion's Youth of the Year.
Both judges and audience thoroughly enjoyed Will's public speaking as his confidence and humour helped to engage everyone present.
Bailee White from Nhill College, in her own words, "gives everything a go" and judges were impressed by the commitment Bailee demonstrated in leadership roles both in the community and at school.
Judges said it was a joy to listen to Bailee speak of her passion to become a large-animal veterinarian and serve in areas rural.
Lastly, Kaniva College student Rebecca Hobbs equipped herself with humour and maturity beyond her years to explain to the judges how she seized formal and informal opportunities to expand her experience and knowledge.
This was evident to the judges by her travel to the United Kingdom solo this past summer to visit her grandmother.
Judges were very impressed by Rebecca's ability to transfer theoretical knowledge to practical applications, noting that she seemed to be a "tech whiz" who was excited by future possibilities and the part she would play in it.
At the conclusion of the day Ms Blackwood and the judges congratulated the four "articulate, delightful" youngsters.
While Rebecca Hobbs was presented with the public speaking award, Adelle Weidermann and Bailee White were named as the final winners.