2010 HEYWIRE Winners Announced
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett announced the 2010 winners of ABC Radio’s regional youth initiative Heywire at the Australian Youth Led Convention at Parliament House in Canberra this morning.
Mr Garrett congratulated the Heywire winners, and thanked them for their work in raising awareness of the breadth of experience of young people in regional Australia.
“From the new Australian who arrives as a displaced person from India to the skateboarding community in northern Tasmania; this year’s Heywire winners are challenging the stereotypes of regional Australia,” Mr Garrett said.
ABC Director Radio Kate Dundas said the inspirational stories and passion of the Heywire entrants this year are truly impressive.
“The 33 winners chosen truly represent the diversity of regional Australia,” said Ms Dundas.
“They tackle issues ranging from protecting the environment in Kalgoorlie WA to coming out as gay in Broken Hill NSW, from the joys of mustering cattle on the Gulf of Carpentaria to a refugee family settling in Shepparton VIC.”
Heywire is a competition that gives a platform for the ideas, opinions and stories of young people in regional Australia. Heywire calls on people aged 16-22 to submit stories in text, pictures, film or audio, about life in Australia outside the major cities.
Winners will now travel to Canberra in February 2011 for the Heywire Youth Issues Forum at the Australian Institute of Sport. The new Heywirers participate in leadership and community building activities, and network with members of parliament, government and community leaders. They also work on proposals around the issues raised in their entries: from agriculture to mental health to the importance of sport in small communities.
The Heywire winners for 2010 will have their stories featured across ABC Radio networks and abc.net.au
The Australian Government has sponsored the Heywire initiative since 1998, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said he was pleased to be involved this year.
“Heywire helps build the confidence of young men and women in rural and regional areas to become future leaders. By sharing their stories with a national audience, Heywire also helps build the profile of the issues affecting young people,” Minister Ludwig said.
