Youth Council - Members

I have worked for Shand Thomson for coming up five years and am studying part time towards my Diploma in Business hoping to eventually become qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant.

I have also been a member of Project Clutha since it began in September 2005 and have really enjoyed being part of what Project Clutha has achieved so far. Our main objective in Project Clutha is to make the Clutha District a better place for young people to live in order to keep them living here, and I think that this will tie in well with the objectives of the Youth Council.

I love being involved in the community, which is why I first got involved with Project Clutha and have more recently joined the Presbyterian Support Buddy Programme, and I really think that being a part of the Youth Council will be a great way to be further involved. It is a great opportunity to be on the first Clutha District Youth Council and I really look forward to the challenge.

Deputy Chairperson - Brendan Morrison (workplace representative)

Brendan is 18 years old and lives and works at Inch Clutha on a dairy farm with his family.

He attended Kaitangata Primary School and then South Otago High School where he was a school councillor and was involved in running school activities. Outside of school, Brendan was the student representative on the Board of Trustees, which he says allowed him to gain a lot of knowledge on how the school worked, and experience in working in a different team environment, making decisions, and trying to introduce new things.

In 2006, Brendan attended the Youth Forum held in Balclutha which focused on how to make the Clutha District a better place for youth. He says he hopes his involvement on the Youth Council to try and get some of those ideas put into place, or come up with new ideas to make the Clutha District a better place for young people.

Sarah-Jane Edgar (Blue Mountain College)

Hey, my name is Sarah-Jane Edgar – though most people call me SJ. I was born in Tapanui 17 years ago and have lived on my parents' farm since then – though I must say I am not a big fan of farming. I attended Tapanui Primary school and am now at Blue Mountain College completing Year 13 (or seventh form).

At the age of ten I started Indoor Bowls and haven’t been able to stop playing since. It is so not an old persons sport – it’s amazing! I love to read, with so many favourite authors I won’t even begin trying to name them. I enjoy writing and my ultimate goal is to make a living from writing – until then I intend to go into teaching.

I became involved with the youth council because it seemed like an interesting and challenging thing to do. I want to learn more about the way a council is run, and ensure that youth have a say in the Clutha District. It’s a great place to live, but there are few opportunities for youth to stay in the district – and that needs to be looked at. I hope to gain more skills from the Youth Council and to voice my opinion on matters affecting the Youth in this part of the country.

Farryn Crawford (Blue Mountain College)

Hi, I’m Farryn Crawford and I’m 16. I live in Waikoikoi on a sheep farm and attend Blue Mountain College where I am in year 12.

I enjoy playing sports like netball and girls rugby. I also love to dance which I have learnt since I was about 3. When I finish school I hope to become a chef and am thinking about entering the Navy.

One of the main reasons why I wanted to get involved in the Youth Council was that for the last year I have been a member of the Young People’s Reference Group, which is a group set up by the Children’s Commissioner to help them change the lives of children and young people in New Zealand. Part of my role in this group is to develop contacts to be able to find out what children and young people think today and the Youth Council is a great opportunity to gain that contact and to be involved in making a difference in my area for people of my own age.

Eleanor Leslie (The Catlins Area School)

My name is Eleanor Leslie, I live on a farm near Owaka with 2 brothers and 1 sister, 7th form at The Catlins Area School.

I enjoy most sports and the outdoors, especially trying to surf, as well as music including playing the Bagpipes.

I wanted to get involved with the youth council because it gives me an opportunity to see how the Clutha District is managed. I like the fact that our council is prepared to listen to and involve younger people of the Clutha District, and I want to be part of this. I hope that this experience will improve my skills in dealing with people and to give a broader understanding of community life, while working with people my own age.

Paul Thompson (The Catlins Area School)

My name is Paul Thompson. I live in Owaka and I go to The Catlins Area School, which has given me this chance to be on the Clutha Youth Council.

I am interested in music, computers and I like to hang out with my friends and make new ones. It is exiting to now be a part of this important group of youths. I joined the Youth Council so I could represent my friends back at school and let their opinions be heard and I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity.

After leaving the Youth Council I will take with me memories of a once in a lifetime experience, the satisfaction of a good year's work, and the experience of being part of an official council. This experience with give me an advantage throughout my career and goal to becoming a business owner and my dream to make an impact in the world of professional cyber gamming.

Chloe Beauchamp (Lawrence Area School)

Chloe is 15 years old and lives in Lawrence where she attends Lawrence Area School.

Her interests include journalism, representing her peers, basketball, music and retail therapy. Her reasons for becoming involved with the Youth Council are to get involved with youth issues and to take the case of Lawrence's youth to the council, meeting new people and having the chance to make a difference.

Jamie Hodgson (Lawrence Area School)

Jamie is 16 years old and attends Lawrence Area School. Her interests include Persian Cats and forensics. She wanted to become a Youth Council member in order to gain experience and understandings of local government and to act as a spokesperson and advocate for the youth of the Lawrence-Tuapeka area.

Charles Blair (South Otago High School)

Hi there, my name is Charles Blair and I am a member of the 2008 Youth Council.

I am 16 years old and have lived on the outskirts of Balclutha on a farm with my mum, dad and two brothers all my life. I attend South Otago High School and have a part time job at Shand Thomson Ltd as one of the office juniors, I also work at home on the family farm in the weekends and holidays. In my spare time I enjoy doing outdoor activities such as water skiing, fishing, shooting, mountain biking, motor biking, tramping and snowboarding.

I wanted to get involved with the Youth Council because I enjoy being involved in the community. I often find that people always have plenty to complain about but few actually take the step to help and improve their community, I see this as a good opportunity for me to do so. I also feel it is important to challenge yourself and take every opportunity that presents itself because you never know until you give it a shot. I see the Youth Council as a great opportunity for me to learn how council organisations operate, to help further develop my leadership skills and help to improve the Clutha District in making it an interesting and active community to live in.

Ben Sexton (South Otago High School)

I'm 17 years old, I live in Stirling - have most of my life - with my mum Diane, her partner Mohi and brother Paul.

I'm dead keen on cars and I love sports, although I'm quite accident prone; not many places I haven't injured or bones I haven't broken. I play rugby as lock or Number 8, Touch 7s as a middle or link wing at times and I also enjoy basketball, soccer (5 a side or normal), tennis, mountain biking and I can often be seen running around Balclutha.

I work at the freezer at the moment while also attending school - I passed NCEA levels 1 and 2 and will be looking for NCEA level 3 this year with UE. I was in the top band for the first two years of high school and I will admit I haven't always done to the best of my abilities, I have settled down and am starting to take on more responsibilities.

Jake Faber (Tokomairiro High School)

Byron Vollweiler (Tokomairiro High School)

My name is Byron Vollweiler and I am a year 13 student attending Tokomairiro High School.

My interests and hobbies are skiing, rugby, golf, working on the family farm and I enjoy painting.

I wanted to get involved with the student council so I could get more involved with what happens in the community and how it all operates. I hope to leave to Youth Council knowing that I have done my bit to make the district a better place.

Clutha District Youth Council members

Back row (l to r): Ben Sexton (South Otago High School), Jake Faber (Tokomairiro High School), Paul Thompson (The Catlins Area School), Sarah-Jane Edgar (Blue Mountain College).

Third row (l to r): Vicki Philip (workplace representative), Eleanor Leslie (The Catlins Area School).

Second Row (l to r): Brendan Morrison (workplace representative), Byron Vollweiler (Tokomairiro High School), Charles Blair (South Otago High School).

Front row (l to r): Farryn Crawford (Blue Mountain College), Chloe Beauchamp (Lawrence Area School), Jamie Hodgson (Lawrence Area School).

Clutha District Council, PO Box 25, Balclutha