By REBECCA BILLS
FIVE hundred YEAR 9 students from across the hills and Yarra Valley came together to celebrate what it means to be a young person in Australia.
With the theme, “Our Voice, Our Impact,”students gathered at Discovery Church in Mount Evelyn to listen to speaker and Paralympic Games gold medallist Kurt Fearnley, who related his story of commitment to his dreams.
Youth and Community Engagement co-ordinator Loren Hedger said Mr Fearnley’s story did not leave a dry eye in the house.
“It was amazing even for me as an adult to have the opportunity to hear from someone like him,” she said.
“He spoke about his gold medals and how he crawled the Kokoda Track as well as racing and being a part of the winning team in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
“He really inspired the students to stay committed and motivated to achieving their goals.”
Ms Hedger said despite National Youth Week being in April, the Youth Services 2014 Youth Summit was still part of the celebration.
“It’s been put on to celebrate young people, celebrate leadership, and inspire young people locally,” she said.
“We had a mix of presenters including a local young person showing that you don’t have to be famous to be a leader.
“Young people are the leaders now and in the future.”
Other speakers at the event included mayor Fiona McAllister as well as performances from an Indigenous Hip Hop crew with themes of the day being cyber safety and self-esteem.
Students flocked to social media outlet Instagram to post photos of the event with comments such as “the day taught me heaps” and “it really helped me”- just a few of the positive feedback messages from the day.
Mater Christi College principal Mary Fitz-Gerald said the staff of Yarra Ranges Youth Services was very tuned into the language and ideas of students.
“Their work with our leaders had been an important part of the leadership formation of our girls,” she said.
