Youth Council - Members

I have worked for Shand Thomson for coming up six 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 all that Project Clutha has achieved so far.

I love being involved in the community, which is why I first got involved with Project Clutha as well as the Presbyterian Support Buddy Programme, Community Patrol and the Clutha Community Youth Trust. I have really enjoyed my first year on the Youth Council as Chairperson, and I look forward to being part of what we will achieve in the coming year.

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.

Todd Murray (Blue Mountain College)

Farryn Crawford (Blue Mountain College)

Hi, I’m Farryn Crawford and I’m 17. I live in Waikoikoi on a sheep farm and attend Blue Mountain College where I am in year 13.

I enjoy playing sports like netball and girls rugby. I also love to dance which I have learnt since I was about three. 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 two years I was a member of the Young People’s Reference Group (YPRG), 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 on that group was 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. Now that I have finished my term on the YPRG I am still really interested in making a difference for youth in my area and hope that I can contribute to making a change for youth in our district as part of the Clutha District Youth Council.

Nicole Ford (The Catlins Area School)

Rosa McPhee (The Catlins Area School)

Charles Blair (South Otago High School)

Hi there, my name is Charles Blair and I am a member of the 2009 Youth Council.

I am 17 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.

Meghan Bennett (South Otago High School)

Howdy Clutha Country my name is Meghan Bennet and this is my first year as a member of the Clutha District Council Youth Council.

I am 16 years old and live in Warepa, a small village 10 minutes south of Balclutha towards Clinton.

I have a brother Morgan and a sister Kate and obviously two parents Stuart and Shona. I have a great after school job at Development House and enjoy Soccer, Walking, Reading, Fishing, traveling and chilling with friends.

I joined the Youth Council as I enjoy getting out into the community and doing things that I know will benefit the District and to find out and understand what goes on backstage in the District. I believe its a good chance to get out and about meeting new people who have a one (or more) similar interests in Clutha Country.

Jake Faber (Tokomairiro High School)

Christiaan Faber (Tokomairiro High School)

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YOUTH COUNCIL

Clutha District Council, PO Box 25, Balclutha 9240