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RSL YOUTH GRANT WINNERS TELL ALL
Our communications team recently met with a handful of the winning students of RSL Youth Development Program Grants to learn about their achievements, future goals and how they intend to spend their RSL Youth Grant.
Name: Jillian Thomsen
Age: 16
School: Hillcrest Christian College
Grant: Community Leadership & Civic Participation
What are your personal goals you hope to achieve in 2008?
I want to represent Australia’s social, economical, and environmental issues at the United Nations Youth Forum in New York in 2008. The forum brings global issues to the stage including my two passions, poverty and the environment.
How will your RSL youth grant help you and your family?
Due to the high costs in flights and accommodation to New York, the United Nations Forum trip would not have been possible if it weren’t for the RSL. The trip has been a long-term goal of mine and I’m so excited that I can finally go.
Name: Cody Lamont
Age: 16
School: Marist College Ashgrove (boarder)
Grant: Sporting - Rodeo
What is your best personal quality?
I am helpful and make sure I am there for anyone to lend a helping hand.
What are your three greatest achievements?
1. Representing Australia at the World Titles in ‘rope and tie’ and ‘steer wrestling’.
2. Assisting with running of a cattle station breeding horses and cattle.
3. Raising awareness and keeping rodeo alive by teaching kids in my home town about the sport.
Name: Christee Bishop
Age: 16
School: Mackay North High School
Grant: Sporting - Hockey
Who is your role model and why?
Marathon runner Kerry McCann. She is living proof that you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it.
How will your RSL youth grant help you and your family?
Without the RSL Youth Grant it would not have been possible to fund my trip to South Africa to represent Australia in the Under 16 School Girls hockey team, which I have worked so hard at to make.
Name: Mathew Curtis
Age: 17
School: Anglican Church Grammar School
Grant: Sporting – Gymnastics
What are your three greatest achievements?
1. Competing at the World Gymnastics Championships in the Australian team as the second youngest Australian to ever compete.
2. Winning first in Pommel Horse at the Japan International Junior Competition.
3. Winning the Australian National Championships overall.
Why did you decide to apply for an RSL youth grant?
My gymnastics coach recommended I apply to help with the increasing costs of travel to and from competitions. The online process was easy to follow and I’m so glad I took the time to do it.
Name: Emily Pugin
Age: 16
School: Nerang State High School
Grant: Community Leadership & Civic Participation
Who is your role model and why?
Angelina Jolie. She has helped hundreds of orphans around the world and is a true ambassador.
What are your personal goals you hope to achieve in 2008?
Taking part in the World Challenge ‘education through exploration’ team travelling to assist orphans in Cambodia and Thailand over a one month period. The expedition is run by a group of students taking part and the RSL youth grant will fund a majority of my trip. My dream of helping orphans around the world is coming true!
Name: Amy Lang
Age: 16
School: The Gap State High School
Grant: Sporting - Acrobatics
What are your best personal qualities?
Persistence, commitment, and never giving up.
What project are you undertaking to use your RSL Youth Development Program grant?
I am part of an acrobatics trio who won a National Gymnastic Title in 2007 aiming to compete at the World Gymnastics Championships in Russia in 2008. The RSL grant will help with costs of travel to my qualifying rounds and training fees throughout the year.
Name: Sacha Wohlfahrt
Age: 16
School: Mackay North State High School
Grant: Community Leadership & Civic Participation
Why did you decide to apply for an RSL Youth Development grant?
I really wanted to take part in the 2008 Remembrance Day Commemorative Tour so I decided to apply for the grant so I could have the opportunity to represent the Mackay community overseas.
What opportunities may you have missed if it were not for the RSL Youth Development Program?
Without the help of the grant I would have to work a second job to raise enough money for the trip which would have affected my academic studies.
Name: Rhiannon Habermann
Age: 14
School: Bremer State High School
Grant: Sporting - Irish Dancing
What is your greatest achievement in life?
I have won six consecutive State Championships in Irish Dancing and am also two grades advanced at school. I will be 15 when I finish Grade 12 at the end of 2008.
What are your best personal qualities?
I am determined and hard working and will continually strive to achieve my goals.
Name: Annaliisa Geraghty
Age: 15
School: Malanda State High School
Grant: Sporting- Athletics
How will the RSL Youth Development grant assist you?
Living on a farm and being oneof four children means the RSL grant will go a long way in assisting my sporting goals financially.
What will the RSL Youth Development grant help you achieve?
I really want to promote athletics and its benefits to kids in my community. I hope that my achievements will inspire younger kids to take up athletics.
Name: Cate Campbell
Age: 15
School: Kenmore State High School
Grant: Sporting- Swimming
What are your goals for 2008?
To make the Australian swimming team at the Olympic trials in March to compete in the Beijing Olympics.
Who is your role model?
Susie O’Neil. Not only because she was a good swimmer but also because she handles herself very well and is still involved and committed to the sport of swimming.
Name: Sharni-Lee Robson
Age: 15
School: Kepnock State High School
Grant: Academic
What are your best personal qualities?
I am very confident and can talk and relate to people from all walks of life.
What are your personal goals you hope to achieve in 2008?
My ultimate goal is to achieve high academic scores so that I can be accepted into the Nura Gili Indigenous School at the University of New South Wales.
If you have questions about the RSL Youth Development Program, please contact Charlotte King at Bond University on 07 5595 1114, or email RSLyouth@bond.edu.au.