A worthy winner

WITH her commitment to young people in Shellharbour City Teagan Lacey is a worthy winner of this years Young Citizen of the Year award.

The dedicated 17 year old has been active in Youth Services since she was introduced to Blackbutt Youth Centre four years ago through a friend.

The friend did not return however Teagan has remained a much appreciated addition to the centre ever since.

Most of her work centres on the popular circus skills program run at the centre. Young people from throughout Shellharbour city are invited to learn the tricks of the trade long known only by circus performers. They learn everything from juggling to flipping plates. Teagan said her work at the centre is both rewarding and fun.

She hopes to forge a career in youth work and is well on her way. Being so young herself it is well worth congratulating the incredible amount of work she puts in at the centre.

I want to prove to the kids I am teaching you can do what you set out to do, she said.

I feel I am making a difference in the community.

Next on her agenda is introducing a photography course to the centre. Teagan is currently studying photography at the Illawarra Senior College and aims to impart her skills to her peers at Blackbutt Youth Centre.

Her nomination for Young Citizen of the Year came via the Shellharbour City Youth Services Team. Teagan did not know she had won until she received the phone call asking if she accepted her nomination. She said it came as a pleasant surprise.

I am just a young person passing on skills to other young people, she said.

Her achievement in winning this award suggests she is much more than just a young person, people across the community greatly appreciate her work.

She was presented her award at the Australia Day celebrations, held at Reddall Reserve, by Shellharbour Mayor David Hamilton.

He said all winners on the day are shining examples of the wonderful community spirit in Shellharbour City.

We are extremely lucky to have such dedicated and hardworking community volunteers in our city, and today (Australia Day) we have the opportunity to show some of them our appreciation, he said.