The Rural Ambassador Award highlights and celebrates young people in our communities, their contributions, their achievements and their goals.
At the 2023 Donald Show Jacob Donnellon was awarded the Junior Rural Ambassador Award, which enabled him to compete at the Wimmera Group final of the competition held in Dimboola on March 15.
Jacob was a finalist in the Buloke Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year and was awarded Donald’s Young Citizen of the Year at this year’s Australia Day Awards. He is no stranger to having a go and getting things done; receiving these awards is testament to that. But, as Jacob said in his interview at the awards dinner: “We don’t volunteer for the recognition, we do it so people have something to do, to make a difference.”
Five young people from across the Wimmera, including Amber Nuske from Warrack-nabeal, Jessica Cassar from Kaniva, Lucinda Smith from Goroke, Bailee While from Nhill and Donald’s Jacob Donnellon, were interviewed by judges Rebecca Barry, Averal Wait and Bart Turgoose.
The contestants were asked two impromptu questions on stage in front of the crowd, about their greatest achievement so far.
These remarkable young people have achieved so much in such a short space of time and are an asset to the respective communities.
The final question asked of the contestants was: “How would you get more people to volunteer at your show?”
Jacob’s response was spot on; all in the crowd sat nodding their head in agreement.
He said: “Just ask. Ask someone to do a job, ask them to be involved.
“You don’t need to take a role on the committee – just do an hour on the gate, a bit in the office, or help with cleaning up. There’s a job for everyone.”
Jacob was the driving force behind last year’s successful sponsorship drive, which saw an all-time record from which the community benefits.
Jacob will now compete at the State final of the Junior Ambassador award, as a part of the State Convention in Kaniva, at the end of June. Best of luck, Jacob!
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 5 April 2024.
