Hindmarsh Shire Council is excited to announce the appointment of its 2018 Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council.

At its December 2017 meeting, Council appointed eleven Youth Councillors for the 2018 term: Brodie Kennedy, Ruby James, Elena James and Nan Da San Bleh Dah from the West Ward (Nhill College), Aidan Gelligen, Bridie O'Halloran, Jordan Leach and Nicholas Roll from the North Ward (Rainbow P-12 College) and Kynan Clarke, Danni Haebich and Teo Haines from the East Ward (Dimboola Memorial Secondary College).

One position remains vacant in the East Ward but it is anticipated this will be filled early in the New Year. The last position will be filed by the recipient of Hindmarsh Shire Council Youth Citizen of the Year, Thablay Sher.

Above - the 2017 Hindmarsh Shire Youth Council

Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor, Cr. Ron Ismay said, "On behalf of my fellow Councillors I would like to congratulate the successful applicants on their civic appointments. It is an honour to work with such passionate young people. The selection process is always difficult and I would like to encourage unsuccessful applicants to renominate again next year".

Cr Ismay added, "Council is extremely proud of these young people and is eagerly anticipating the initiatives and directions they take as youth leaders within the Shire. As with previous Youth Councils, the new Councillors have a responsibility to discuss issues and ideas that are important to our youth and to raise them at their meetings for further discussion and potential action".

The official launch of the 2018 Youth Council will be held on 7 February 2018 from 6.00pm at the Nhill Memorial Community Centre and will include presentations from local guest speakers Taylah Ryen from Dimboola and Shannon Smith of Nhill.

Taylah attended Dimboola Memorial Secondary College and is now studying a double degree at the Australian Catholic University, Ballarat in Nursing and Paramedics. To assist with her career, Taylah is working as a Community Officer with Ambulance Victoria at Dimboola and as a Lifeguard at the Nhill Swimming Pool.

Shannon attended Nhill College, prior to completing a double degree in Primary Teaching/Bachelor of Arts at Flinders University in Adelaide.

She also attended a teacher immersion program in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for six months in her second year at University. Shannon will be teaching Indonesian at Nhill College in 2018.