STUDENTS'

ACHIEVEMENTS

Enriching Experiences Ahead -

Darcy Oates's Vision for Volunteer Work Abroad

Saints Public Speaking Captain is the proud recipient of a Helen Handbury Leadership Award. Darcy is one of only four winners in Australia and the first from Queensland since 2020. The award recognises Year 12 students in rural and regional Australia who have shown strong community leadership and initiative.

Darcy is passionate about trying to rectify the inequality in opportunity and resources between rural and regional areas and capital cities. So taking to heart such an ethos, Darcy applied for and was selected to represent the electorate of Barron River in the 2023 YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament. He was also part of a panel during the Queensland Regional Community Forums and spoke to state MPs and local community stakeholders about issues facing regional youth with a plea to do something to improve the situation.

The Helen Handbury Award, in essence, cultivates an appreciation for community leadership and initiatives in regional Australia, and a desire to become involved when issues arise that one is passionate about.

This year 12 student says he’s honoured to have been selected as the Queensland winner, one of four nationally.

He’s unsure about where he’d like to go next year, but is leaning towards India or South America as places where he could make a difference doing voluntary work. He is sure, however, that wherever he goes it will be an enriching experience that he will cherish.  Prize money  of $5000 will be used help cover expenses for the trip.       

Breaking Personal Records 

Matthew Boylett Shines at Round 3

Matthew Boylett competed in Round 3 of the Queensland X3 Excel State Championships recently at Morgan Park, Warwick. He had an awesome weekend finishing 6th overall on points. He qualified 6th and finished every race in 6th position which included the 22-lap race Sunday afternoon. Matthew had some good battles, fell back to 10th but always returned to his starting position,  just six-tenths of a second off the front five. He broke his own PB by one second. R4 resumes in the first week of August at Queensland Raceway.