Photo: Supplied.
FROM LES LOUIS, ROTARY CLUB OF WYNNUM AND MANLY
The Rotary Club of Wynnum and Manly has recognised some outstanding young people in its recent Citizenship Awards.
The club has also provided opportunities for several other young people to experience the magic of science and for others to learn how to transition from school to life after school. “These young people are an inspiration to us all and our future is assured when youth of this calibre are coming through,” said president Mick Matthews.
The Citizenship Awards are bestowed on outstanding senior high school students who embody Rotary’s core values of integrity, service and helping others. The awardees were nominated by their schools, and the award winners were recognised at a recent club meeting, where they addressed the club and spoke about their future dreams.
Charlotte Bluck (Wynnum State High School), Ella Luckensmeyer (Moreton Bay College) and Kahtie Neave (Brisbane Bayside State College) spoke at the meeting, but Arie Van KerKwyk from Iona College was unable to attend.
Charlotte was School Captain and was involved in a wide range of activities, excelling in academic subjects and work ethics and being a role model for her peers. She was prominent in public speaking, a lead in school musicals and had previously been Year 9 Captain. She will be studying International Business Studies.
Ella received her Citizenship Award because of her strength of character, sense of justice, loyalty, leadership and always being there for her peers. She assisted Grade 7 students in Grade 11; she was House Cultural Captain and Captain of Art in 2024. Ella wants to study Visual Arts.
According to deputy principal Louise Briers, Kahtie Neave is a ray of sunshine every day. She is a dedicated and hardworking student, representing the student council at numerous events, including an event at Parliament House. She worked hard to improve her grades and was involved in senior basketball, concerts and the arts, becoming Senior House Captain in 2024. She would like a career in music or, running her own cake business, or both!
In addition to these awardees, it has been particularly pleasing to hear from other students we have supported at recent meetings. Science Experience attendees Charles McKee, Eva Healey, Nev Kaper and Miles Bailey spoke about their exhilarating interaction with science at our universities in Brisbane; Hemish Dubey also told of his experience at the London International Youth Science Forum; and Oliver Zaccaria explained the value of attending the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra this year. Angus Clouston gave an entertaining account of his week-long camp, where participants could look at the issues of moving into the world after school. Their presentations reinforced the conclusion that our future is in safe hands.
