WAKING up at 5.30am each weekday would be a nightmare for
most teenagers.
However, it’s a way of life for 17-year-old Nerolea
Crossfield.
For the past year the Swan Hill College student has been a
prominent fixture at the race track after landing a job as a stable hand and
track worker.
The teenager was offered the permanent role after she took part
in a work placement.
“It’s good, it gets me up in the morning and gets me
going,” Nerolea said.
Her passion for horses and riding was developed at a
young age, following in the footsteps of her mum.
“I’ve been around horses
since I was born,” she said.
“I love the freedom of having them and the trust
you can build with them.
“A lot of my friends don’t understand how I can get
out of bed so early, but I love my job.”
Growing up with horses, Nerolea
began riding as a youngster and has been heavily involved with pony club over
the years.
While her involvement has mainly focused on pony club activities,
the last three years have also seen her compete in dressage at a state
level.
“I try and ride everyday,” she said, noting it was an outlet, a way to
relax and “get away from it all”.
Not one to sit still, the teenager
maintains a busy schedule.
She also works as a lifeguard at the Leisure
Centre.
“I’m a pretty busy person,” she said.
“I don’t like staying at
home and enjoy spending time out with my friends.”
Nerolea’s dedication and
involvement in sport was recently acknowledged when she was awarded the Mallee
Sports Assembly Sport and Recreation Award at the VET in Schools Student
Excellence Awards.
Focused on a career within the health industry, Nerolea is
hoping to combine her love of sport while helping others to achieve their
dreams.
One of her highlights throughout her course was taking her fellow
students for a horse riding lesson.
“There were 12 students in the class and
of those there was only one boy that had experience riding horses,” she
said.
While it was challenging, Nerolea said the exercise was also very
rewarding and by the end of the class the students had learnt how to trot as a
result of her instruction.
Passionate and committed to everything she does,
Nerolea is preparing to enter Year 12 next year, but there is no sign of her
slowing down.
In a bid to juggle her two jobs and hectic Year 12 workload,
Nerolea is already trying to get a head start.
“I’m doing some pre-study
now,” she said.
“I love my two jobs and I love the people I work
with.”
For more VET AWARD stories, see Friday’s edition of The Guardian (28/12/12).
