NT Young Achiever Awards: Katherine youth make semi finals

The young achievers are just weeks away from finding out if they made the finals, with judging starting in February.

They join a strong group of contenders up for 12 different award categories.

Ms Lander is in the running to win the NT Government Excellence in Youth Leadership award, following years of dedicated work reviving her school spirit, fundraising for classrooms, volunteering and leading by example.

Listing a few of her achievements, Ms Lander was on the Student Representative Council, was House Captain at St Joseph's Catholic College, and committed to getting her Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinbourgh awards.

She was honoured with the Caltex Best All Rounder award, the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership and Teamwork award and the Australia Day Student Citizen award.

In 2015, she assisted with fundraising to re build her school's bathrooms, and last year she revived a school fete aimed at showcasing student excellence and siphoning funds back into the classroom.

Now graduated, Ms Lander is studying a diploma in built environment at Bond University on the Gold Coast, as she works her way into a degree in architecture.

Declan McElhone is up for the Genesee and Wyoming Australia Indigenous Achievement Award - which highlights passionate and dedicated young Indigenous people and strong role models who are making a difference.

The 15-year-old Katherine High School student won the Naidoc young Indigenous achiever award in 2019.

For the past year, he has juggled school and a Certificate II in Business as part of a traineeship at NT Friendship and Support, an organisation supporting individuals and families living with a disability, seniors, and delivering out of home care for children.

"I believe, as a young Indigenous person, I can be a role model for other young people coming up in the workforce and education system, that if you put your mind and efforts into a task you can achieve anything."

Casey McElhone, Declan's mother, says it is the challenges he has overcome over the past couple of years which makes the nomination markedly special.

"There have been challenges over the past couple of years and he's come a long way. He is a different kid," she said.

"He overcame fitting into school, being shy, he was trying to find his place. I see so much potential. I always thought my kids would do great and he is proving me right."

Nominated by CEO of NT Friendship and Support, Stephanie Ransome, the young achiever is described as a hard worker with a can-do attitude.

"When I think about Declan on his first day of work, he was so insecure, to today where he shows so much confidence, I am so proud," Mrs Ransome said.

"When he came on board he had no confidence in his ability, he was one of our first traineeship students and he worked really hard.

"He has set the bar really high."

Mrs Ransome said the traineeship provides young people with a sense of opportunity for the future and opens doors wide open.

"These opportunities show young people what is out there for the future, challenges them and shows them people care."

Judging of the award starts on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

Finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner on Friday, April 17, 2020.

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