2020 Red Carpet Committee: Corey Brice, Maddy Kelly, Kaitlyn Castro, Harry Partington, Lana Conlan, Diaz Willis and Nichola Barrett
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Red Carpet Youth Stories 2020 Since its conception, the Red Carpet Youth Awards aim was to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of young people and the difference they make in the community of Wodonga and surrounds. When the Red Carpet Youth Awards and Gala Dinner were canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Awards Committee looked at alternate ways to harness the objectives of the awards. The committee has created a storytelling project titled “Red Carpet Youth Stories - Stories of young people by young people”. The aim of the storytelling project is to recognise the Red Carpet Youth Awards nominations and the achievements of young people whether they seem little or big. It also provided the opportunity to do the following. • Celebrate the underdogs who are rarely in the spotlight • Inspire young people to get involved in community groups • Inspire young people to share their own story • Challenge perceptions and stereotypes of young people • Build resilience in young people by showing them that everyone goes through challenges and they can overcome them • Influence key decision makers in Wodonga to listen to youth and share their decision-making power with them. A big shout out and well done to the amazing committee consisting of Year 11 and 12 students across Wodonga (pictured opposite) who have done an outstanding job with this project and moving it into an online setting while still showcasing the amazing young people in our community. To each of the young people that shared their stories, thank you for your vulnerability and openess to share them with others. These stories are a reminder that every young person has a story to tell and that each story matters. No matter how big or small it may seem, your story is powerful and is yours, so own it. We hope these stories continue to encourage, invigorate, and inspire you as much as they have us.
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Hannah Chick
Isabelle Rebetzke
“I’ve always stopped doing things because I thought I might not do too well at something or I might fail. I would tell myself that I’m not going to do it, its too hard, something might go wrong.
“Things that you are passionate about don’t always come your way when you find something that you really love doing you just go for it”.
17 years old
During this last year, I decided to take up different opportunities that have worked out well for me. I’m quite a loud and outgoing person, so most people think that I’m really confident and I have everything worked out, but it’s actually not true, I have a lot of self-doubt and uncertainty in myself and my abilities. That’s something most people kind of go “oh really?” but despite appearing confident on the outside, people can still have uncertainty within themselves. In January this year, I sat a nationwide exam in biology and I surprised myself and placed in the top-25 people in the country that sat for the exam. I got to head off to Canberra as a result, it was so awesome. I got to meet so many super-smart people from all around Australia and it was just something I wasn’t expecting. It really goes to show that all the hard work that I put in at school really paid off. If I was to tell my younger self anything it would be to just go for it, it’s better to do it and miss out then to not do it at all. There will always be people around you that are willing to help you out, as long as you are willing to seek help you can go very far in life”
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15 years old
Towards the end of last year I took a black and white image of a girl in a mirror that portrayed/symbolised reflections of who you are as you look into the mirror. When I look back that I did kind of see a bit of myself in the image. This image shortlisted me in the Head On Photo Festival earlier this year. I felt so honoured to be considered in such a prestigious competition and involved in a community of like-minded photographers, artists, and mentors. I find sharing/creating images a very vulnerable feeling. I do put a lot of myself into my work and into my art and its a very vulnerable feeling putting that out into the world, it’s kind of like you are putting a piece of who you are out there to be judged by other people. I have very high expectations of myself, I’m a bit of a perfectionist, I think a lot of people don’t really see that. I do put a lot of pressure on myself to be successful and be the best version of myself that I can be. I think if I could tell my younger self anything it would probably be to step out of your comfort zone and take opportunities when they come along, try new things, keep an open mind and don’t be weighed down by the idea of failure and not being successful”
Atosha Bironga
Michael Wright
When I first moved to Australia I was naive, I knew nothing about Australia. It was a culture shock for me in my everyday life and the people that I associated with.
I have special needs - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
19 years old
I realised in order for me to fit into the broader Australian community was to contribute and give back to the community. I did this by sharing my ideas, my unique story, and my personal experiences. I am so proud of my journey and how much I have been able to grow and achieve in 3 years of being in Australia and living in Wodonga. I will undoubtedly say that this journey and having good people around me who often go above and beyond to support me has helped shaped how I perceive the world around me. As the Young Ambassador for UNICEF throughout 2018/2019, I had the amazing opportunity to work closely with Helen Haines and Cathy McGowan. They are exceptional, incredible and inspiring women. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to connect with them as I continue studying my bachelor or Justice studies majoring in politics and international relations at the University of Canberra. These connections and others throughout the school environment and wider community not only gave me confidence and made me realise that I have something valuable to offer as a young person, but have helped me fit in. Our life is our message to the world, and it should be inspiring. I personally believe that every young person has something very incredible to offer within their community. Our past experiences do not determine our future because there is no limit to what young people can achieve.
18 years old
Living with these diagnosed disorders, it means for me that concentrating is always hard and staying focussed on a task can be a challenge as well, I am constantly distracted. Despite these challenges, I’ve achieved the highest award in scouts which is the Australian Scout Medallion. Something that I am most proud of is joining the Navy Cadets, this has provided me so many opportunities that have impacted me. I have participated in a number of community events including Anzac Day Ceremonies, Wodonga Children’s Fair, Lavington School Fete and have been awarded a ‘Endeavour in Training’ form my efforts in being committed to serving the community. Being a Navy Cadet I have been able to travel down to Melbourne to get onboard HMAS Hobart for the day, Attend a camp at the Hume Weir where we stayed at Latchford barracks. We went to the Hume Weir for a regatta, which is like a Navy small boat/yacht racing event. For that event, I was on one of the support boats. It was a great experience. I am inspired by my Dad, he joined the army as a kid and spent 25-30 years in the army as a vehicle mechanic. Next year I am looking at doing an outdoor recreational course at Tafe and I am planning on joining the Navy.
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Jonathan Crowe
Shania Gale
“I use my music as therapy. I put my thoughts on a page and try and get it to a beat and the way that it happens I find really beautiful. If I have a bad day, I’ll do my best to find or create a beat and it’s really good for changing moods.
“Finding the right people you can trust is important. Whilst I use my intelligence to my advantage, it can also get in the way of my mental health, In saying that, I am really proud of my improved mental health and how far I have come.
My lyrics are inspired by not just my own thoughts, feelings, highs, and lows but also the experience and hardships of others around me.
If I could have told my younger self one thing, it would be to ‘look into the future and see that things can happen so quickly and amazingly’.
I use my music to tell a story that shares the rawness and vulnerability of the world we live in, which is something to celebrate in a society that maintains the notion that males should not show vulnerability or their inner emotions.
I am pretty much an open book and I have always looked up to my mum, sister, and brother for support, they are important role models in my life. I have had plenty of mental health challenges and at times I still struggle but I have developed strategies now to help.
Most people are aware of my love for music but there are quite a few people who would be surprised to know that I have recorded my own songs and released an album and what my journey to recording the album was.
I hope to one day have a career in early childhood or pediatrics. Focusing on things like my school work and work helps me to thrive and takes my mind off my mental health. Finding things to focus on is important.
17 years old
I was bullied for wanting to make and share my own music, I found myself in a dark place and was faced with many mental health challenges. However, I kept persisting. As the bullying increased, the harder I worked and the more people who laughed at me, the more I pushed to chase my dreams. The result of this is my debut album ‘My Thoughts’. One of my main inspirations would be NF because he writes about his life and writes about therapy and it’s really beautiful the way he does that. He is who inspired me to help people through my music. Wodonga is pretty blessed to have quite a lot of talented musicians. I have met a lot of friends through music and collaborated with some really good artists. If I could, I would tell my younger self to ignore what other people say and that I’m doing what I am for myself and not for them. If I cared about what everyone thought I wouldn’t be where I am today.” 6
17 years old
I have always felt part of the community and the advice I would give to anyone going through similar challenges is to remind yourself that ‘you are the boss of your own life’ and don’t let people take advantage of your vulnerability and mental health. Focusing on remote learning has been difficult for me as I have felt quite isolated. Because I like to be around people and I need others to talk to, especially adults, COVID-19 has had a big impact on me personally and has compromised my mental health. Not seeing my friends and my adult supports have taken their toll, it has been difficult. Even though I have experienced difficult times and still face challenges, I am proud of my achievements and how far I have come. I encourage anyone reading this to remember that you are in control of your own life.”
Josh Rickard
Patrick Dobing
My philosophy in life is, if I can make one small positive change in someone’s day, that is mission accomplished. I am lucky enough to be in a position where I can do this every day. I enjoy every moment of it. I want to try and make this city a better place for everyone to live in.
If I could tell my younger self something it would be to put myself out there more, as it will make you more available for the things you like to do. You might be scared to speak to people but there are so many opportunities - always give things a shot.”
23 years old
I am passionate about Albury/Wodonga and especially the young people in it. I am lucky enough to volunteer my spare time every day at different organisations such as Headspace, Albury and Border rescue squad, Country Hope, Red Cross, Carevan, Friends of Nolan house, and more. Making a difference through the work that I do helps me enjoy every moment of my life. I hope that through my work, I am able to inspire young people to really step up, especially during these difficult times because it can be so empowering for them to take responsibility and do something they are passionate about. If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be to be open to the endless possibilities that present themselves to you and once you leave school the floodgates of opportunity open. I would also remind myself not to compare myself with others and what they are achieving, you are on your own journey. Also be willing to educate yourself, try new things, do things your way, and don’t feel pressured. I feel so proud of our young people in Albury/Wodonga and I am filled with hope about the future of our city, it is in good hands.
17 years old
My traineeship with AFL SportsReady is something I am really proud of as it gives me an opportunity to discover new things and the opportunity to grow as a person. This traineeship has meant a lot to me because not only have I been able to grow my skills in working within a team, I have also been able to work whilst completing a certificate 2 in business. I have used these skills to start my own business, Pat’s Custom Computers, I build and repair computers. Before school moved to remote learning, I was the Co-Ordinator of the WSSC Super Smash Bros Club. I would bring my Nintendo switch and would play various matches with the people who attend the meeting. Before the pandemic, I was in discussion with an eSports business in Albury about holding a Smash Bros tournament at the Cube with plans to invite other schools and students from across the border to attend, and a few weeks ago I was able to run a tournament where people played remotely. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, each week I volunteer my time and attend two meetings helping as part of the production team. Now that the kingdom hall is closed due to restrictions we have been doing our meetings via Zoom, I have been trained on how to set up the meetings and run the meetings from my personal computer. In our congregation, there are a lot of older people that find it hard using this technology, So I have been spending my time on the phone helping them setting up Zoom and walking them through how to use it. I believe in the bible but respect other people’s beliefs and choices in life. I am a very open person and happy to share with anyone wanting to learn more about my beliefs 7
Nelson Butterfield
Jack Redcliffe
I am passionate about umpiring footy, watching footy, and sports in general. While injuries are preventing me from playing football, I am still involved, just on the other side. This year was supposed to be my first season of umpiring for AFL North East Borders Umpires Association but due to COVID-19, I have been unable to start.
Throughout my life, I have grown to develop a deep understanding of people with a disability. I have an older brother who has Autism and a younger brother who has complex medical conditions. If I didn’t grow up within the family environment that I have I don’t think I would have ever thought about the disability support field, I only really knew about that kind of work because my older brother had support workers and I thought that it would be a great pathway for me.
16 years old
I am inspired by ex-Carlton footballer Chris Judd because when he was playing he would push himself further than what was expected to get out there and get the ball time and time again. I have recently started up a fundraiser to go towards cancer research as part of the border Relay for Life. I have been asking politely for donations and have done a 100km bike ride that raised over $400. I have been growing my hair for 6 months now and will be shaving my head at the end of November. So far I have raised over $1000. The thing I am most proud of is being a volunteer with Portsea Camp as a Junior Leader. The Portsea Camp is an education and recreation facility supporting disadvantage and special needs children from across VIC and NSW. My Volunteering role included encouraging participation, setting up and packing up the hall for meals, serving meals. Assisting the staff with daily activities, providing safety instructions for the flying fox. I am looking forward to turning 18 so I can be a Senior Leader. If I was to tell my younger self anything it would be to be ambitious and reach for the stars.
17 years old
On the weekends I work as a disability support worker. I am currently working with two young people who have autism, we do things like bike riding, hiking, 4wd-ing and I support them in participating in social skills groups. I also work an average of 30 hours a week at Border Sheet Metal and Ducting to complete a school-based apprenticeship, getting up at 4.30 am, 3 days a week. Due to COVID-19, I have been working full time and then doing Year 12 and TAFE on top of that sometimes it’s a challenge to fit everything in. In 2019, I was the team mentor for the Wodonga Middle Years VEX robotics team. I work with the students of a Thursday afternoon to help them build their robots and develop personal skills such as teamwork and communication skills. Some weekends I travel with the team to different robotics competitions. In December last year, I accompanied the team when they traveled to the National VEX robotics competition held in Adelaide. The team took out the VEX Excellence award. This is the highest award in the VEX competition. This enabled the team to compete in the VEX world championships in America this year. Unfortunately due to CV-19 we unable to attend the competition. It was fairly devastating, as I was hoping to be able to go. If I was to provide advice to my younger self it would be to let mum take photos of me without pulling silly faces. But on a serious note, I would tell myself to stress a whole lot less because everything is going to work out.”
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Tahlia Bartlett
Abbey Copeland
I started my own business when I was 14 and I am really proud of the fact that I have stuck with my business and maintained it by being persistent and working hard through all the tough times.
I love dancing because it allows me to express myself, emotionally, and artistically. When I dance, it feels as though the whole world around me disappears and I don’t have to worry about a thing.
As a local business owner COVID-19 has definitely made it hard - I have had to change everything around just to adapt. Business is a lot slower but I am very thankful for friends and family and the support they have shown me which has helped me keep my business running.
Dancing has also given me the opportunity to become a part of a family. Some of the relationships I’ve formed with other people within the dance community are strong enough to last a lifetime, and I think that’s really special.
17 years old
I started my business from home and have always enjoyed baking. My friends and family kept asking me to make cakes for them for different celebrations, and seeing their faces and reactions to what I had made caused me to think this is something I could do. From there my business just grew. I have have had the amazing opportunity to work with some big players in the local hospitality industry such as David Kapay (Miss Amelie and Miss Amelie Gourmet). David is definitely one of my role models, I really look up to him and his business. He has definitely mentored and supported me and really pushed me to be as good as I can be. At the start of COVID-19 during the first lockdown, I actually got to run a masterclass with Ben Warhurst (Bens Food Diary and Border Food Forum). I found it very nerve-racking but it was really good as it was a new experience. I really enjoy teaching others the skills that I have learned. If I were to tell my younger self anything or anyone else anything it would be that there is no such thing as being bad at something. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything, its just a matter of hard work and dedication. In terms of my future, I really want to be a Paramedic but then if my business is as big as it is now who knows what it will look like in years to come.
17 years old
If I could go back and tell my younger self anything it would be to do what makes you happy and don’t let other people’s opinions influence you. Dancing has played a massive role in my life because I have been doing it for over 10 years. Along with the encouragement and support from my family, dancing has shaped me into the person I am today and has taught me so many things along the way. Some people wouldn’t know that I am a dance teacher which I have been doing for almost 4 years at Border Danceworks. This requires me to choreograph routines and teach them to younger students. It can be difficult at times, but it is also rewarding. I love being able to have the opportunity to teach younger students and share my passion for dance with them. I am most proud of my involvement within the Victorian State School Spectacular, it is amazing. This is my fourth year being involved. This year has been very different and difficult working around all the restrictions because it is based in Melbourne and we have been doing rehearsals over Zoom. School Spectacular is still going ahead but we are broadcasting it to TV rather than a live performance. I am currently working towards going to University next year at Charles Sturt in Thurgoona. Physiotherapy is my first preference and I will also be pursuing dance teaching as a side job/hobby. 9