The 2020 Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Awards will be broadcast live in a special online event on May 8.
The awards, normally a packed affair at the Lighthouse Theatre, were postponed due to COVID-19.
Despite this the Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Councils were still eager to recognise the achievements of the region’s young people.
The youth councils have adopted an online format, with the potential for people to tune in from anywhere.
The ceremony will be hosted by radio presenter, author and former Warrnambool resident Alex Dyson.
Moyne Shire Youth Councillor Terri Williams said that both youth councils saw this as an opportunity bring people together in an online sense.
“With the growing anxiety and uncertainty of the coronavirus, it is of extreme importance to keep our community connected,” she said.
“Even though we cannot hold the Youth Awards at the Lighthouse Theatre this year, we will be streaming the Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Awards Night on Friday May 8.
“This way, family and friends who wouldn’t have normally been able to make it to the awards can watch from around Australia and even overseas.
“Both Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Councils believe that it is of the utmost importance that we still recognise our community’s amazing group of young people this year, specifically because these young people have all demonstrated the qualities and values, which we, as a community, will need to have to get through the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Recognising that the talents and contributions of our young people spanned further than the previous academic, sport, art, leadership categories, several changes were made to the nomination process in 2020, as well as the awards themselves.
Three age categories were introduced: 12-15; 16-18; 19-25, with a winner and runner-up from each Council area being presented.
The awards are now based on five values: Cooperation; Resilience; Responsibility; Kindness and Passion.
Warrnambool City Youth Councillor Meg Reuel said that the aim was to recognise the efforts and good character of young people in the district, rather than solely focusing on how much one has excelled in any particular area.
“We wanted to shift our focus from the number of achievements and recognise the community-minded and perhaps those whose efforts have not been acknowledged before,” she said.
“For the first time ever, we’ll be holding a Youth Showcase as well because some talents and achievements are better experienced first-hand.
“The Youth Showcase will include films of live performances, art exhibits and interviews with our community’s young people.”
List yourself as “going” to the Warrnambool and Moyne Youth Awards Facebook event and you’ll see all of the content in the lead up to the big night, as well as the awards themselves presented by Alex Dyson.
Visit bit.ly/WarrnamboolMoyneYouthAwards
