Fifty-seven young people were nominated across 12 categories at 25th anniversary of the Alpine Shire Youth Awards, held at the Bright Community Centre on Friday, 12 September 2025.
The sold-out ceremony honoured the achievements of young people across Alpine Shire and celebrated a broad range of talents, including running a poddy calf business, mentoring young students through the Koorie Kids program, and forging strong intergenerational connections with residents at Barwidgee Lodge in Myrtleford.
This year was the Silver Jubilee of the Alpine Shire Youth Awards, with the number of nominations breaking the record for any nominations over the past 25 years.
Tickets for the ceremony sold out in a week, filling the Bright Community Centre with loved ones to honour the 57 young people recognised for their individual excellence and community contributions.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said that it was incredibly challenging to select the winners amongst the nominees.
"Every year I am humbled by the extraordinary qualities of the young people who live in Alpine Shire," she said.
"From those who have lived here their whole lives to those who have more recently moved to our area, they contribute so much to our communities, sometimes unseen but always felt."
Cr Nicholas also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Alpine Shire Youth Awards.
"It is a wonderful thing to know that, as a Council, we have recognised the contributions of our young people for a quarter of a century," she said.
"I am continually inspired by their passion and it is clear from the number of the nominations that so many people in our communities feel the same way."
This year's ceremony was organised by the Youth Awards Committee, made up of Bright locals, Patrick Day, Julian Kitchen, Skye Snowden, and Elkie Timbs.
The event featured a musical act by Lily Spencer and a dance number from winner of the Performing Arts Award, Sharna Hall-Bidois.
Katsu Japanese Restaurant catered, with sound and lighting provided by Alpine Audio Visual.
Alpine Shire Council congratulated the 13 award winners across the 12 categories, as well as all 57 nominees.
Saskia Heuperman | Academic Award sponsored by Dickens Real Estate
Helina Murphy | Community Award sponsored by Kiewa Mitta Murray Community Enterprises Limited trading as Community Bank, Mount Beauty & District
Mo Han Wang | Endurance & Persistence Award sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bright
Sharnea Hall-Bidois | Performing Arts Award sponsored by the Rotary Club of Myrtleford
Lauree Duncan | Proud & Deadly Award sponsored by Alpine Shire Council
Lily Boyer | Rural Award sponsored by TAFCO Rural Supplies
Emily Macklan | Sport & Recreation Award sponsored by the Lions Club of the Upper Kiewa Valley
Ethan Jenkins | Visual Arts & Media Award sponsored by the Bright Art Gallery & Cultural Centre
Teagan Brown and Tyler Sacco | Workplace Award sponsored by Hancock Victorian Plantations
Year 9 Barwidgee Lodge Intergenerational Program at Myrtleford P-12 College | Youth Award (12-16 Years) sponsored by Community Bank Bright
Jack Byrne | Youth Award (17-21 years) sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bright
The Alpine Shire Youth Awards celebrates the achievements of young people aged between 12 – 25 years across Alpine Shire.
Each year, community members are invited to nominate young people across a range of categories to recognise their talents and honour their contributions.
More information about the Alpine Shire Youth Awards is available online on Engage Alpine: https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/alpine-shire-youth-awards