TWO of Swan Hill’s young leaders have reached a major milestone
in their pursuits of personal excellence.
Harry Coffey and Thomas Dullard
have reached the semi-finals in the Academy Graphics Regional Achiever Award,
part of the Victorian Young Achiever Awards.
The regional achiever award
category recognises the positive contributions of a person up to 28 years of age
within a country area.
Announced on Friday, Harry said it was “great” to be
named as one of eight semi-finalists within the category, after 133 entries from
across the state.
The 17-year-old second-year apprentice jockey has already
won more than 50 thoroughbred races, all while receiving daily treatment for
cystic fibrosis.
Fellow semi-finalist 21-year-old Thomas Dullard has shown a
commitment to charity and volunteer work.
As the captain of Swan Hill’s MS
Melbourne Cycle team, he and an army of supporters have raised more than
$145,000 for multiple sclerosis sufferers.
Both young men are vying for the same
award which brings a $2000 prize and a trophy.
Across six categories, the
Young Achiever awards cover regional achievement, leadership and innovation,
sports, science and technology, small business, as well as community service.
The winners will be announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner on
Friday, April 12 at Etihad Stadium.
More on this story in Monday’s copy of The Guardian (18/2/13).
