From left: Jessica Newman, Hattie Langley , Rotarian Youth Director John Cannon, Tyler Richards, Oscar Vinycomb, Mack Fitzpatrick, Maya Lineham, Matthew Thompson and President Rotary Club of Alexandra Malinda Jackson.

Rotary Club of Alexandra’s students’ award night. was held on Wednesday (Dec. 5).

The awards recognise citizenship and involvement in the student’s community.

There was one from each of  Alexandra, Buxton, Eildon, Marysville , St. Mary’s Year Six primary school students, and Alexandra Secondary College Year 12.

Yhe awardees for 2018 all were outstanding young people who have demonstrated commitment to themselves and their community.

The citations read out by each school’s teacher representative told of young people who are leaders and in their own way being outstanding citizens, prepared to go the extra bit to make sure a task is well done and ensure effective involvement of all.

All awardees demonstrated an ability to deal with adversity in a positive and practical way.

The local community can be proud of our young people and this group of leaders show us that the future is in good hands.

More than 80 Rotarians, special student guests, their family and friends gathered at the Alexandra Golf Club to celebrate the achievements of these young students and be part of the awards night.

The Awards for the Primary school year six students is a certificate and $300 to assist them with their secondary education while the year 12 Alexandra Secondary College students not only received a certificate but, for the first time, a Fitbit Versa Smart Watch, a water proof device.

This replaces the Citizen Watch that has been the regular gift to the Secondary College Citizens of the year. The Fitbit Versa Smart Watch has much more to offer than to tell the time, accurately just as these young people have so much to offer our community and our future.

The primary school awardees were: From Alexandra, Hattie Langley; Buxton, Mack Fitzpatrick; Eildon, Jessica Newman; Marysville, Matthew Thompson and St Mary’s, Tyler Richards.

The Alexandra Secondary College Citizens of 2018 were Maya Lineham and Oscar Vinycomb

Rotary Club of Alexandra ’s President Malinda Jackson, in closing the evening, congratulated all the students in their outstanding achievements as citizens of our community and wished the primary students best wishes for a successful secondary education.

Malinda specifically congratulated Maya and Oscar for their leadership in the community during a time in their lives where young people face many challenges.

Malinda wished them every success in what ever they chose to do with their lives and confirmed that they were starting for a very good base. Finally Malinda thanked the teachers and the community who have nurtured and taught these young people ensuring that they and their peers grew up to be the best possible people they can, in particular meet to adversity with innovation and enthusiasm.

From left: Jessica Newman, Hattie Langley , Rotarian Youth Director John Cannon, Tyler Richards, Oscar Vinycomb, Mack Fitzpatrick, Maya Lineham, Matthew Thompson and President Rotary Club of Alexandra Malinda Jackson.

– Robert Chaffe