Friday 30 January 2009

New Youth Councillors confirmed

Five new faces will sit on the 2009 Clutha District Youth Council.

They are Todd Murray (Blue Mountain College), Nicole Ford (The Catlins Area School), Rosa McPhee (The Catlins Area School), Meghan Bennett (South Otago High School), and Christiaan Faber (Tokomairiro High School).

They join Farryn Crawford (Blue Mountain College), Charles Blair (South Otago High School), Chloe Beauchamp (Lawrence Area School), Jamie Hodgson (Lawrence Area School), Jake Faber (Tokomairiro High School), Brendan Morrison (workplace representative), and Vicki Philip (workplace representative) who all return for a second year on the Youth Council. Cr Bruce Vollweiler and Cr Chris Hargest remain as Council’s representatives on the Youth Council.

The Youth Council was established last year as a Standing Committee of the full council to enable it to advocate on behalf of youth and report to and make recommendations to Council.

Council District Development Manager Julie Pearse said Youth Councillors spent time last week familiarising themselves with Council processes, staff and other key personnel.

“Everyone involved is now looking forward to the year ahead,” she said. “This year’s Youth Council has a good mix, with five new, enthusiastic members as well as those returning with a year’s experience already under their belt,” she said.

Mrs Pearse said that this year Youth Council meeting venues would be rotated, allowing each school area to host at least one meeting.

New councillors will be sworn into office at the first Youth Council meeting for the year in Balclutha on Monday 16 February 2009, with a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson also to be elected.

ENDS