a leading role Bendigo Senior Secondary College alumnus and Young Citizen of the Year Mitch Graham has the Borough in his blood.

By Danielle Snowdon and Jennie Mellberg - Photography by Leon Schoots

While many 19-year-olds were thinking about jobs, TAFE, apprenticeships or uni, Mitch Graham was attending board meetings and hosting grant presentation evenings in his role as president of Empowering Eaglehawk.

The enterprise – founded by passionate community members in 2006 – has raised over $1 million for the local community. Empowering Eaglehawk forms partnerships with regional businesses to get major projects off the ground and also provides funding grants to community groups that make a difference to local people.

Mitch joined in his late teens and showed so much commitment, he is now in his third term as president.

His ongoing efforts to strengthen the Eaglehawk community, and the leadership he’s shown in working towards positive outcomes, were recognised at the start of the year with two prestigious awards – and a new title.

“To be named Young Citizen of the Year for both Bendigo and Eaglehawk came as a real shock to me,” Mitch says. “It’s a great honour and I feel very humbled by the recognition.”

For Mitch, it’s not about awards. Quite simply, he believes in the Borough.

“I don’t do things because I might win something,” he says. “I do things so the whole community can benefit.”

While Mitch may not think he has done anything particularly special, the now 21-year-old has dedicated a big part of his life to making the town he loves better for everyone – both through his volunteer work with the Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Association and distributing grants on behalf of Empowering Eaglehawk.

“My leadership role provides me with the opportunity to learn from others who also give so much to the community,” Mitch says. “I believe it’s an important part of leadership to evaluate myself to ensure I’m continually doing my best for the enterprise.”

Having graduated from Bendigo Senior Secondary College in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitch reflects on his final year at the school with no regrets.

“I was quite nervous about finishing Year 12,” he recalls. “While our cohort didn’t have the final year we wanted, BSSC taught me so much.

“I was encouraged to get involved with extracurricular activities, such as the Student Leadership Team and College Council. These experiences helped shape me into who I am today.”

Despite the rocky year that was 2020, Mitch graduated and is studying primary education at La Trobe University in Bendigo. He is now heading confidently towards his dream of becoming a teacher and inspiring the hopes and aspirations of a new generation of students, just like his teachers did for him along his journey.

“From a young age, I knew I wanted to become a primary school teacher,” Mitch says. “I was inspired by the way my teachers interacted with students, friends and family.

“They always had a smile, they were engaging and knew how to get the best out of us as individuals.”

Mitch hopes to take these characteristics into his own teaching career.

“I hope to be someone young people can look up to,” he says. “I want to encourage students to be community-minded and see the value of leadership.”

When asked what makes a great leader, Mitch lists determination and commitment as key attributes. His advice to other young people hoping to head into leadership is to simply ‘go for it’.

“You never know when the leadership skills you have uncovered during your time at school can be used in everyday life,” he says. “Never underestimate the power you have to be a leader.”

Australia Day Back At The Lake

After a location change in 2021, the Bendigo Sandhurst Rotary Club’s annual Australia Day market returned to its home at Lake Weeroona.

The celebrations commenced with an official ceremony, before attendees happily explored the market stalls, watched the live entertainment, and satisfied their stomachs with a feed from the Rotary barbecue.

2200m2 of knick-knackery, bric-a-brac-ery, second hand curios, retro accoutrement and a soupçon of handmade finery. + now more aisles to get lost in. Find

OPEN 7 DAYS ~ 10AM-5PM

Festival Hits The Right Note

Some of the world’s finest classical musicians called Bendigo home for five days in February.

Showing off their talents at the fourth annual Bendigo Chamber Music Festival were many new and returning musicians, who joined forces to give fans magnificent and unique performances that may never be heard again.