Caption: LION HEARTED: Zone Chairman and former Youth of the Year winner, Peter McGlyn (left) pictured with 2008 Youth of the Year winner, John Dunn (Boorowa Central School), Rachelle Mitchell winner of the Lions Public Speaking Award (Hennessy College) and Young Lions President Garry Sell at the awards ceremony last week.

Judges at the recent Zone finals of the Lions Club Youth of the Year competition held in Young, have praised the high standard of entrants in this year’s award.

After impressing local Boorowa judges, Ian Curlewis, Mayor Cr Wendy Tuckerman, Derrick Mason, and Andrew Mitchell, John Dunn progressed to the Zone finals in Young.

The three Boorowa students who competed at the local club level, Jessica Eustace, James Walsh and John Dunn were all interviewed by the judging panel where their general knowledge, poise and confidence were evaluated. They were then asked to speak for five minutes each on a prepared topic before being given a random topic for a two minute impromptu speech.

The judges were unanimously impressed with the calibre of the students and took some time in choosing John as the local representative for the Youth of the Year. Jessica was chosen as the winner of the Public Speaking section.

John went on to compete against other young people from the Zone which included four clubs – Boorowa, Young, Grenfell and Cowra. He was named Zone winner and Rachelle Mitchell from Young was named winner of the Public Speaking.

John will now compete at District level at Parkes on 30 March.