Geordi ,Year 12 St Monica’s College, Cairns

St Monica’s College Yr 12 student Geordi was awarded an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her commitment to her school community.
Geordi is a passionate performer with a love of music and drama. She has performed in the school musical productions ‘Grease’ and ‘Guys and Dolls’, participated in Jazz Choir, Showcase Choir, Jazz Band, Gala Night and the Cairns District Eisteddfod.
In the Cairns Eisteddfod Geordi won the Under 18s Section for her original musical composition entitled, ‘Lillith’s Creed’. At the St Monica’s College annual talent quest in 2011, Geordi was victorious with her choreography and original lyrical composition to an arranged musical item. As a talented public speaker, Geordi has represented the College at Rotary Interschool Debating and attended the 2011 Gifted and Talented Conference.
Not only is Geordi a magnificent performer she is also a keen sportswoman having represented the College in CISSA (Cairns Interschool Secondary Sports Activities) Volleyball.
During her time at St Monica’s Geordi was elected to the position of Homeroom Representative, Masterson House Vice Captain and Chavoin Boarding College Vice-Captain.
Whilst undertaking her studies at St Monica’s College, she also achieved Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts/Desktop Publishing as well as Certificate II in Information Technology Systems.
Geordi was also awarded the College’s most prestigious accolade, Honour in Christian Leadership and received a Collegiate Scholarship from Bond University where she is now studying. 
Geordi received $500 and a certificate for her tremendous involvement at St Monica’s College. .

Lansana ,Year 11 Christian Brothers College

Lansana from Christian Brothers College was awarded an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for being an outstanding role model.
Having recently immigrated from Africa with his three brothers and three sisters Lansana has shown tremendous initiative and enthusiasm to settling into life in Australia.
On top of working to support himself and maintain a household he is a dedicated student who works hard to achieve academically and was recently elected as House Captain on the 2012 Student Leadership Team.
Lansana wants to study International Studies and become involved in Social Justice – Conscious Raising. 
Lansana has been awarded $250 and a certificate for his resourcefulness and strong values. .

Melanie ,Year 12 Christies Beach High School, SA

Melanie from Christies Beach High School has been recognised with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her outstanding sense of community.

Melanie is a member of the 619 Squadron of the Australian Air Force Cadets, based at Morphett Vale. She underwent Recruit and Basic Training, which includes Field Craft, Service Knowledge, Aviation, Aircraft Recognition, Drill and Ceremonial and the Senior First Aid Certificate.

Since her training Melanie’s duties have included participating, as part of the Youth Vigil, in mounting an all-night vigil at the Morphett Vale Anzac Memorial on Anzac Day in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and  serving as a member of the Catafalque Party for Remembrance Day.

In January 2011, she was selected for Promotion Training and after successfully passing was promoted to corporal. As well as attending Parade Night one night a week, she has also volunteered at the Morphett Vale RSL Club, undertaken promotional events for the AAFC, including two Royal Adelaide Shows and two Clipsal Events, and now teaches Basic Recruit Training.

At school and in the wider community, she consistently seeks to lead and influence her peers by example, in so doing, benefitting both school and community. In every facet of her life, Melanie influences younger people by actively teaching positive skills and values.

Melanie has received a $500 cheque and certificate her tremendous pride in Australian citizenship.

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Nicola ,Year 10 Brighton Secondary School, SA

Brighton Secondary School student Nicole has received an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her community involvement.
Nicola took part in a 4 week World Challenge expedition to Laos & Vietnam.
In order to fund the trip Nicola sought part-time work and also participated in group fundraising which included a movie and quiz night.
In Laos & Vietnam Nicola and her peers worked in a refuge for homeless and disabled adults.  The project they undertook was renovating a bathroom facility - this involved demolition of existing facilities in preparation for a safer bathroom to be installed.
Nicola received a $100 cheque and certificate for contribution to a worthy cause.

Nikayla ,Year 10 Deloraine High School, TAS

Nikayla from Deloraine High School has been recognised with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her involvement in planning and coordinating fundraising efforts for a school trip to Africa.

With the help of family and friends Nikayla planned and ran a traditional Dutch auction which raised $4000 for the Africa trip. The effort required her to approach local businesses and create advertising in the lead up to the auction as well as set up and help out on the night.

On the trip to Africa Nikayla visited three orphanages in Rwanda and Burundi. On her trip she immersed herself in volunteer work and took on a pastoral care role teaching and encouraging local students.

Nikayla says she would love to return to Africa to teach, for her the school trip was only to “dip her toe in the water” and she can’t wait to go back.

For her  display of resourcefulness and leadership Nikayla received $100 cheque and certificate.

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Raisy ,Year 10 Denison College, NSW

Year 10 Christian Brothers College Raisy has been recognised with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for being a brave and inspiring young man.
Raisy suffers from a condition called Fibula Dysplasia and had to recently undergo surgery on his head.  In the face of adversity Raisy has shown tremendous positivity and is extremely inspiring to his peers and younger sister.

Raisy is working towards becoming a Sports Physicist.

For being an inspirational member of his community Raisy received a cheque for $100 and a certificate.

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Sarah ,Year 12 Girton Grammar, VIC

Year 12 Girton Grammar student Sarah has been rewarded with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her passion and commitment to helping young people.

Her strong leadership skills were utilised through her position as Youth Director of the “Be the Change” exhibition in her local area as well as her leadership position in Make Poverty History & Live Below the Line campaigns.

Sarah conceptualised and facilitated a youth art exhibition called Be The Change Exhibition which featured works by local artist all sourced by Sarah.  She also engaged in media to promote the exhibition by sending out a media release and partaking in radio interviews.

Her position as Youth Director for Be The Change also allowed for Sarah to participate in a road trip to Canberra in 2010 where she and 100 other youth were selected to lobby politicians in Canberra to focus on reducing the numbers of people living in poverty.

Sarah’s passion for raising awareness on poverty saw her, along with a group of her peers, undertake the Live Below The Line challenge and lived on $2 a day for one week.  

Sarah also generously gives her time as a volunteer journalist with Youth Online which provides services for deaf and hard of hearing young people aged between 12 and 18.

Sarah earned a $500 cheque and certificate for her altruistic efforts.

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Sarah ,Year 10 Sylviana High School, NSW

Year 10 Sylviana High School student Sarah has been awarded an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her extensive community involvement.

Sarah is Sunday School teacher at Oatley Uniting Church who also plays the flute in the church band and is involved with the Church’s fund raising activities.

For the last two years Sarah has participated in the school’s volunteer program at a local nursing home where she helps in the kitchen and the dining room along with assisting with residential daily activities.

As a member of the school SRC Sarah has been involved with raising money for Canteen by selling bandanas and has also sold cakes on Harmony Day.

Sarah is currently a cadet for the navy training ship Sirius for the last year and is rank Seaman.

Sarah hopes to complete Y12 and go to ADFA to become a naval officer.
Through her display of leadership and teamwork Sarah has earned a $100 cheque and certificate.

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Sophie ,Year 12 St Andrew’s Cathedral School, NSW

St Andrew’s Cathedral School student Sophie has been recognised with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her bighearted initiative in support of a peer.

Sophie and her school suffered a great loss when a student named Kundayi Chiundiza passed away. To honour his memory Sophie initiated a fundraising program called the ‘Kundayi Chiundiza School Project’ to raise money to start a school in Kundayi’s home country Zimbabwe.

Sophie along with her peers arranged fundraising activities to raise money for the school.  A barbeque featuring a ‘buy a brick’ scheme which sold 6000 bricks raised an amazing $7100 towards the School.  Another $3000 was raised after the rugby boys ran a collection at a match along with a $9000 raised at a whole school BBQ.

The biggest fundraiser organised was the "Do it For Kundayi" auction night which raised an enormous $100,000, with the help of the SACS, rugby team and generous donations. 
 
Through Sophie’s dedication and ingenuity $140,000 was raised for the project.

Sophie received a cheque for $500 and a certificate for her tremendous contribution to an incredible cause.

Tara ,Year 10 Princes Hill College, VIC

Tara from Princes Hill College received an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for her outstanding display of community involvement.

For the past four years Tara has volunteered at a community circus which uses performing arts as a tool for social change. At West Side Circus Tara has dedicated her time to teaching an outreach program called 'Live Wire' which teaches circus performing to children from the Collingwood housing commissions.

Tara volunteered by teaching weekly community classes and she also has an involvement with the S.A.I.L (Sudanese Australia Integrated Learning) program, which teaches circus performing to a group of Sudanese youths aged 12-15.

Every Saturday morning for a few hours Tara travelled to Dandenong where she taught the Sudanese youth’s basic tumbling skills, manipulation (juggling, Diablo and hula hoops) as well as acrobalance and their favourite activity skipping. At the end of the program Tara aided in choreographing a performance for the 10th birthday of S.A.I.L.

Tara is also part of an independent youth run circus troupe called 'Off the Wall' which has performed at the Melbourne  and Adelaide fringe festivals and most recently she was accepted into NICA (National Institute of Circus Arts).

Tara received a cheque for $100 and certificate for generously sharing her talents within her community.

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William ,Year 10 St Andrew’s Cathedral School, NSW

William from St Andrew’s Cathedral School was awarded with an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for his outstanding contribution to charity fundraising.
William was heavily involved with the Christian not-for-profit organisation Samaritan’s Purse for 2 years and through his hard work raised enough money to build a water tank in Cambodia.
To raise the funds William worked at Bunning’s during the school holidays and organised an event on Valentine’s Day to sell roses at his school raising over $1000. 
The funds William raised provided writing materials, balls and books to take to Cambodia when St Andrew’s students travelled to see the water tank and paint it.
William received a $100 cheque and certificate for his initiative to raise money for a great cause.

William ,Year 10 St Patrick’s College, NSW

Yr 10 St Patrick’s College student William was awarded an ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Award for his dedication to his local community. 

William is a member of the Australian Air League (AAL) which is a youth organisation that fosters the spirit of aviation in the youth of Australia; promotes good citizenship; encourages teamwork and aims to develop ingenuity, resourcefulness and responsibility in its members.

“As a member of the AAL Sutherland Shire Squadron I have been involved in a number of community events including: the Christmas/Easter Seniors Concert, assisting the elderly at the concert and setting up chairs and brochures” says William.

William is Senior Cadet of Sutherland Shire Squadron, which means he is a member of Kingsford Smith Wing and regularly participating in parades, wing and group reviews, squadron and wing camps and other events run by the AAL such as swimming and athletics carnivals.

According to William the Air League is also heavily involved in ANZAC day and Commemorative Sunday, “On ANZAC day last year my squadron marched alongside the 6th Machine Gun Battalion carrying their Standard.”

William volunteered his time to sell badges for Legacy Badge Day to raise money for the families of deceased and disabled veterans. He has also completed the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards.

William was awarded a cheque for $100 and a certificate for his commendable achievements.

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