QUEENSLAND

7NEWS Young Achiever Awards QLD

2023 Winners

 

2023 Winners with Luke Twyford, Queensland Family & Child Commission and Kendall Gilding, 7NEWS Presenter and MC

 

Overall Winner - 2023 Queensland Young Achiever of the Year

Myiesha Yoelu has engaged with young people to strategically plan how the government can approach youth. Myiesha was Chair of the Gudang Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation, where she advocated and transferred eight unallocated islands traditionally owned from Department of Resources back to their rightful owners. She was also part of the Negotiation Committee that fought 362,000 hectares of Traditional Owned Land from Jardine National Parks which were handed back in September 2022.

 

2023 Young Achiever of the Year QLD Myiesha Yoelu (Right) with Luke Twyford, Queensland Family & Child Commission (Left)

 

Spirit Super Connecting Communities Award

Hoedowns for Country Towns - Claire Harris and Kate Strong embarked on a bootscooting road trip around Australia in 2022 teaching line dancing, putting events back on the calendar for rural communities, and raising money for seven rural charities. Across nine months, the duo ran 75 hoedowns in halls, pubs, schools, outback stations and everything in between, danced with nearly 3000 people from all walks of life, and raised $38,250.

 

Will Sadler, Chief Risk Office, Spirit Super (Left) with Connecting Communities winners Claire Harris and Kate Strong (Right)

 

Soroptimist International Women Empowering Others Award

Katura Halleday worked with the United Nations on UN75, engaging local youth in the SDGs through workshops focusing on female education. She met with Ambassadors from Russia, Australia and Mozambique in New York to discuss barriers girls face in accessing education. In 2019, she started a social enterprise 8x8 to educate (pronounced 8 by 8 to Educate) providing scholarships for girls unable to attend school due to poverty and in 2022 expanded to literacy and period poverty programs.

Sue Meyers, Archivist / Teacher, Soroptimist International (Left) with Women Empowering Others Winner Katura Halleday (Right)

 

The University of Queensland Create Change Award

Dylan Conway is committed to changing the culture of education. Dylan started a charity that has donated over 6,000 books and $140,000 to veteran charities. He has established over 23 community libraries in police stations, veteran centres, hospitals and military units. Dylan has been an Infantry Officer in the Australian Army for 11 years. He has overcome nine surgical operations.

Tomas Piccinini, Ventures Manager, University of Queensland (Left) with Create Change Winner Dylan Conway (Right) 

 

First National Real Estate Leadership Award

Isabel Natividad is advocating for inclusivity. Isabel is a young LGBTIA+ Aboriginal woman. She took the Inclusivity Leadership position and worked with school leadership. Introduced the celebration of NAIDOC and other Indigenous celebrations, Pride Month and more. In 2021, she was chosen to attend the University of Queensland Young Changemakers program, where she won Best Pitch. She is studying a Bachelor of Science in Physics at the University of Melbourne.

Ray Ellis, CEO, First National Real Estate (Left) with Leadership Winner Isabel Natividad (Right)

 

 

Special Event Presentations Sporting Achievement Whilst Overcoming Adversity Award

Karen Messmer is an equestrian. After winning gold and two silvers at the Invitational Games, Karen was selected for Team Australia to participate in the Special Olympics World Games Berlin, June 2023. Karen weighed 1lb13oz after being born at 25wks. She has Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD, severe dyslexia, 3 heart surgeries and other complications from birth. Karen’s mother has complex PTSD while her father was tragically murdered in Nov 2021.

 

Ean Schofield, Company Director, Special Event Presentations (Left) with Sporting Achievement Whilst Overcoming Adversity Winner Karen Messmer (Right)

 

 

Kennelly Constructions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Achievement Award

Myiesha Yoelu has engaged with young people to strategically plan how the government can approach youth. Myiesha was Chair of the Gudang Yadhaykenu Aboriginal Corporation, where she advocated and transferred eight unallocated islands traditionally owned from Department of Resources back to their rightful owners. She was also part of the Negotiation Committee that fought 362,000 hectares of Traditional Owned Land from Jardine National Parks which were handed back in September 2022.

Tallisha Harden, Speech Pathologist, Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (Left) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Achievement Winner Myiesha Yoelu (Right)

 

Queensland Small Business Commissioner's Small Business Achiever Award

Jazmyn Produces - Jazmyn Smith has directed, shot and produced over 40 music videos and 55 photography sessions since launching in 2021, with clients ranging from The Wiggles' Murray Cook, to Lee Kernaghan. Jazmyn has been flown to Hollywood, Los Angeles and Nashville, Tennessee for her music videography. Jazmyn employs six young regional locals as Production Assistants, and simultaneously runs a sister brand 'Calamity Jane Music Management' dealing in music marketing and industry mentorship."

Dominique Lamb, Commissioner, Queensland Small Business Commission (Left) with Small Business Achiever Winner Jazmyn Smith (Right)

 

Multicultural Australia Spirit of Resilience Award

Sara Diana Faraj aspires to empower women locally and globally. Sara is a proud Lebanese Kurdish woman and holds the world record as the Youngest Zonta President. She endured racist bullying from an early age from peers, and even a teacher. Sara is also the President of the Fraser Coast Young Professionals Group, Youth Mayor of the Fraser Coast Youth Advisory Council, and was the Fraser Coast Young Citizen of the Year in 2022.

Christine Castley, Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Australia (Left) with Luke Strochnetter (Right) Representing Spirit of Resilience Winner Sara Diana Faraj

 

The Coffee Club Hospitality and Customer Service Award

Anthony (Antonis) Kekkou has a never-give-up attitude. Antonis started Andonis Cafe and Bar in 2018, funded by $3,500 in the trading account. By 2022, the Adonis Cafe group has grown to have seven outlets and surpassed $10m in turnover. In 2021, they broke the world record by delivering 3,000 bacon and egg brioche rolls to the community as a form of thank you.

 

Anthony (Antonis) Kekkou

 

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Entrepreneurship Award

Bailey Page is passionate about inventing innovative solutions. Bailey is the Inventor, Founder and Director of Zip Zap Chargers, a unique cableless portable 3-in-1 charger that is capable of charging iPhones, Air Pods and iPads. Since September 2021, Bailey has sold over 6,500 units across Australia and New Zealand in 14 just months. The business turned over six figures in its first five weeks.

The Hon Bruce Billson, Ombudsman, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Left) with Entrepreneurship Winner Bailey Page (Right)

 

 

Awards Australia Volunteering Award

Breanna Medcalfe is a Health Consumer Representative and Disability Advocate, passionately engaging with the community to create positive change in the health system for young people. She strives to be a voice for those with disability, as she has lived with a spinal cord injury since birth. Breanna helped raise over $160,000 for Make-A-Wish through her journey as a “Wish” recipient. Breanna is in her 4th year studying Law part time.

 

Vicki James, Fundraising Manager, Gold Coast Hospital Foundation (Right) with Volunteering Winner Breanna Medcalfe (Left)