Forty young people win berth on Leeuwin's leadership voyage

14/4/98

Forty young men and women from all parts of Western Australia will experience what it is like to crew a sailing ship for five days next month.

The young people - all aged between 16 and 20 - have won an Office of Youth Affairs sponsored berth on the STS Leeuwin's "Leadership in the 21st Century" voyage.

Youth Minister Mike Board said the five-day voyage would provide the winning entrants with an opportunity to develop skills in leadership and management and to improve effective decision-making and problem solving abilities.

"The voyage, which leaves Geraldton on May 4 and ends at Monkey Mia on May 9, will be a great opportunity for 40 young men and women to gain leadership skills," Mr Board said.

"Leadership is an art. It involves making the right decision at the right time, bringing out the best in people and setting clear goals.

"I congratulate all those who will be taking the voyage and I am sure they represent some of our leaders of tomorrow," he said

More than 100 entries were received in the competition which was open to young people aged 16 to 25 years, who had no previous experience on a Leeuwin voyage and who exhibited personal qualities which would benefit from leadership and team participation training.

Entrants also had to write an essay on the topic: "Leaders - born or nurtured". Teachers or referees were also required to provide a written reference about the applicants.

Judges said the standard of entries was exceptional, with many applicants citing the benefits of learning outside the classroom as vital to their development of learning skills.

The judging panel was Mr Tony Gibbs, from the University of Western Australia; Mr Richard Leavitt, a human resources development consultant; and Mr Greg Tonnison, Chief Executive Officer, Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation.

Mr Board said the Leadership in the 21st Century voyage represented part of the Office of Youth Affairs' $60,000 commitment towards offering training programs on board the STS Leeuwin.

The winning entries were:

Serena Blackney (School - All Saints) Bullcreek, Laine McDonald (Kent Street SHS) Victoria Park, Suellen Kitchin (Eastern Hills SHS) Mahogany Creek, Helena Peden (Swanbourne SHS) Nedlands, Aaron Mitchelson (Sacred Heart College) Hillarys, Amy Evans (John XXIII College), Mt Claremont, Gabrielle Chaffer (Santa Maria College) Bicton, Anneliese Carson (MLC), Claremont, Joanna Hughes (St Hildas) Mosman Park, Rebekah Metcalf (Balcatta SHS) Balcatta, Louise Nuttall (City Beach SHS) Wembley, Emma Grinter (Woodvale SHS) Woodvale, Amy Smith and Mathew Lovejoy (John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School) Greenwood, Michelle De Wind (Lynwood SHS) Langford, Vanessa Holm (Ursula Frayne) Rivervale, Chris Stickman (Karawara Community Project) Wilson), Sonia Fowler, Chris Amos and Conor Smith (Geraldton SHS), Geraldton, Rennae Davies (Busselton SHS), Busselton, Lucas Cruse (Crossroads West) Mirrabooka, Amy Della Salle (Bunbury SHS), Bunbury, Jessica Sibson (Hollywood SHS) Nedlands, Storm Bryce (Mandurah SHS) Mandurah, Sienne Perrier (Manjimup SHS) Bridgetown, Ben Sanders (Margaret River SHS) Margaret River, Adelaide De Vis (Rockingham SHS) Safety Bay, Leon Neylon-Sims (Central Midlands SHS) Dandaragan, Martin Coles (Greenwood SHS) Kingsley, Andrew Watts (Hamilton Hill SHS) Coogee, Jarrad DeKuyer (Duncraig SHS) Duncraig, Shawn McKinley (Cyril Jackson SHS) Wembley, Jamie Shires (Kewdale SHS) East Victoria Park, Jamie Clarkson (Scotch College) East Fremantle, Robert Mann (Cannington SHS), High Wycombe, James Savage (Newman College) Karrinyup, Justin Quigley (Mirrabooka SHS) Mirrabooka, Shaun O'Shea (Armadale SHS) Wungong and Mathew Burston (Christ Church Grammar School) Dalkeith.

Media contact: Peter Harris (08) 9222 9211 or Tonya Batalin at the Leeuwin Ocean Foundation on (08) 9430 4105.