Some of Australia’s most influential environmental movers and shakers spent the past weekend in Eurobodalla mentoring 11 local youth who want to make a difference in their community and beyond.
Developed and hosted by Eurobodalla Shire Council, the Young Legends Experience offered environmentally-minded 16-18-year-olds a once in a lifetime chance to be mentored by Nat Woods and Dan Smith from Clean Coast Collective, Anna Jane Linke from Seaside Scavenge, Eva Davis-Boermans from 1 Million Women and Jess Abraham from Tasi Travels and Tidal magazine.
The mentors met the Young Legends at Pebbly Beach in Murramarang National Park, where they spent the weekend getting back to nature without the distraction of phones and devices, and learning how to progress their ideas, hopes and dreams.
Council’s Environmental Education Officer Bernadette Davis said the passionate Young Legends came from across the shire to build on shared ideas with the support of mentors who had already experienced the difficulties of effecting change in the real world.
“The inspiration for Young Legends came from having these awesome students sprinkled along the coast all striving to make a difference through environmental actions in their own communities but they were all working in isolation,” Ms Davis said.
“Council wanted to bring them together with some young inspirational leaders to help them forge ahead with their ideas and join forces to make a greater impact in our shire and beyond.”
The setting allowed the Legends to be immersed in the natural environment. They worked alongside mentors removing rubbish from Snake Bay, logged findings on the Australian Marine Debris Database and carried it back to camp for disposal.
They workshopped ideas and came up with exciting plans and ideas to implement over the next few months and beyond.
“It was an incredible opportunity to be in a room filled with like-minded people,” said participant Molly Carter, from Moruya High School.
“Our mentors were all just in their twenties and have done some amazing things. It was really inspirational.”
The legends are now planning a combined event to highlight how easy it is to tread lightly on the planet and they look forward to spreading their newly-gained knowledge to other young people in our shire.
The event was funded by Eurobodalla Council and the five mentors volunteered their time and expertise.
Above: Young Eurobodalla legends met inspiring environmental mentors at Murramarang National Park last weekend. (left to right, back) Eva Davis-Boermans (1 Million Women), Taryn McDonald, Molly Carter, Lavinia Stokes, Pearl Mitchell, Abbey Hillyar, Brogan Dragisic, Georgia Poyner and Libby Doughty. Front: Grace Preston, Ella Hodges, Nat Woods (Clean Coast Collective), Anna Jane Linke (Seaside Scavenge), Destinee Zischica, Jessica Abraham (Tasi Travels, Tidal magazine) and Dan Smith (Clean Coast Collective).
