On Sunday February 15th 2026, Penrith Lions Club held its annual Youth of the Year competition. Six students from local schools participated.
Caroline Chisholm- Teacher Ms Debbie White
Dilpreet Kaur -Default Man
Fatima Syeda- The Nationwide Slump in Reading
Cranebrook High School- Teacher Micaela Price
Emily Cini – Road to Freedom
Milo Kearney- We need infrastructure fast!
Penrith Selective High School- Teacher Tiarne Verbeek
Harakh Patel- The Cost of Perfection
Prashasti Jolly- The Luxury of Exploration
Our Judges, Carly Bakes, Nikita Dingemans and Mitchell Sutton, commended each student on their confidence during the interviews and for the message they delivered through their Speech.
Every Year that I have been involved with the Youth of the Year I have been in awe of the maturity these young adults possess.
Fatima Syeda was the event winner progressing to the Sydney N5 Area D Zone Final to be held n March 8th. Prashasti was awarded the Public Speaking Award.
Congratulations to all students who participated you have represented your school and community with distinction!
In attendance was Cllr Todd Carney, Mayor of Penrith, who addressed the audience and personally spoke to each of the students during afternoon tea. Peter Thorsby, Assertive Outreach Case Worker, Platform Youth Services, who received a cash donation from Penrith Lions Club to assist in their work with homeless and at-risk youth in the Penrith area. Members of Cambridge Park and Nepean Lions Club.
Lion Graham Estreich, 2nd Vice District Governor (President Nepean Lions) presented Lion Charles Wheeler with a 10 Year Monarch. I am very grateful to have been presented with DG Bannerette and Badge. Thank you! Lion Graham and District Governor Mohan Nanayakkara JP.
We also had the treat of being entertained by students from Clare Richards Studio.
Isla and Hamish Carpenter performed performed Stick Season (Noah Kahan) and the Sisterhood of Strings performed – Jupiter for 2 Violins (Holst), Parting Glass (Scottish Traditional), A Million Dreams (The Greatest Showman)
Penrith Lions Club wishes to thank Penrith Bowling Club for their ongoing support. We also thank our Judges for their time and thoughtful deliberations. Thank you to Lion Steve Gault for the beautifully crafted awards for the Students, Teachers and Judges, our photographer Consequat Creations for his time and sensitivity for the audience while taking photos and last but most certainly not least, we wish to thank the students who competed, without them there would be no competition!
We look forward now to the Zone final and wish Fatima all the best!
