WA's young person of the year named

06/04/00
Western Australia has a new youth ambassador in 18-year-old David McGowan, named earlier tonight as the WA Young Person of the Year.
David (of Mt Pleasant) received the award from Youth Minister Mike Board at the WA Youth Awards Showcase at the Burswood Ballroom.
He was chosen from a shortlist of seven young Western Australians, all award recipients in a variety of categories.
Mr Board said David was a prime example of the thousands of young people who were leading very positive lives and making a significant contribution to the community.
"David was chosen from an outstanding group of nominees and will make a fantastic role model for young people in this State," he said.
"Any of the 36 finalists in the WA Youth Awards Showcase would have been worthy of selection - this event has shown again how tremendously positive and inspirational our young people are."
David won the Youth Inspiration category before being named WA Young Person of the Year.
It was David's determination to succeed in the face of adversity and pursue a seemingly impossible dream that impressed the judges of this year's Showcase Awards.
At 16 years of age, the then Aquinas school boy was told to give up hope of achieving his aim of making the elite Head of the River rowing eight because he was too overweight and too unfit.
Refusing to give in to self-doubt, David set himself a rigorous training schedule, running, rowing and working out on his own.
A year later, he was a member of the winning 1998 Head of the River eight and in March 1999, he represented WA in rowing, winning gold at the National Championships.
Just five months later, David was heading to Bulgaria to represent Australia in the World Junior Rowing Championships.
As a member of the Australian coxless four, the overweight, unfit boy who was told to give up his sport became a world champion when the team won gold against England and Germany - smashing the world record by 28 seconds.
"What David has achieved is proof that with determination, self-confidence and courage, anything is possible," Mr Board said.
"All our finalists embody this sense of what is possible in life and all are making a positive contribution to society in many different ways."
The awards program showcases the efforts of young achievers, aged between 13 and 25, in the categories of achievement, initiative, inspiration, leadership, environment and community service.
It also includes the Youth Minister's Positive Image Award for secondary school students and the WA Youth Media Awards.
2000 WA Youth Awards Showcase winners
Youth Achievement Award: Katrina McAndrew (19) of Yelbini.
Youth Environment Award: Alicia Curtis (16) of Ellenbrook.
Youth Leadership Award: Amie Frewen (22) of Bunbury.
Youth Inspiration Award: David McGowan (18) of Mt Pleasant.
Youth Initiative Award: Jaqueline Raseta (23) of Esperance.
Youth Community Service Award: Gillian Humphreys (21) of Rockingham.
Youth Minister's Positive Image Award
Mirela Miroiu (17), Hamilton Senior High School.
WA Youth Media Awards
Print Media - best metropolitan news or feature article: Nadia Miraudo,
The Sunday Times.
Highly Commended: (Keryn Ashworth, The West Australian
(Sarah Nicholson, The Sunday Times.
Print Media - best regional news or feature article: Patrick Cornish, The West Australian.
Print Media - best suburban news or feature article: not awarded.
Highly Commended: Scott Walker, The Stirling Times.
Television - best metropolitan feature article/news item: Gemma Tognini, Channel Seven.
Television - best current affairs item: Michelle White, 7.30 report ABC TV.
Radio - best metropolitan current affairs/news item: Charmain Dragun, Southern Cross Broadcasting 96FM.
Best Photograph: Mogens Johansen, The West Australian.
Best print article, radio, television or photograph by a journalist under 25: Carolyn Cordi, Augusta Margaret River Mail.
Youth Media Award Overall Winner
Nadia Miraudo, The Sunday Times.
Media contact: Tamatha Smith 9222 9211