By KATH GANNAWAY
WITH initiative, enthusiasm and compassion in bucket loads, Lily Belle Hellicar is a great ambassador for Yarra Ranges Youth.
The Millgrove teenager said she was excited and honoured to be named Yarra Ranges Council Australia Day 2013 Young Citizen of the Year.
Lily first became involved with Koha Community Café in Yarra Junction three years ago aged just 14 years old. It was no time at all before she was a fully-fleged, hard-working volunteer.
She now shines in her role as Volunteer Co-ordinator, managing up to 30 people to fill rosters, and is an active member of the committee, initiating Koha’s monthly newsletter and pitching in with fund-raising events and hands-on jobs such as working in the group’s three vegetable gardens.
Having left school in Year 9, Lily threw herself into gaining her Diploma in Community Services Work, the youngest student in the course which paves the way for a career in areas including disability, aged care and community development.
She has won several awards, including the Warburton Community Bank’s Ian De La Rue Youth Initiative Award in 2013.
Life is busy for Lily, who also makes time to help her mum home-school her younger brother, works part-time and has been a regular volunteer at Warburton Primary School and helping with respite care at Shiralee House in Yarra Junction.
She completed a radio presenter course with Yarra Valley FM and now has her own show and is setting off in February to Cambodia where she will be helping to build houses.
Lily said volunteering had changed her life. “I love it,” she said.
“(Through) volunteering at Koha, I know who I am and what I want to do with my life.
“There are so many amazing people, and it’s all about the people,” she said.
