Ten Melton residents were among 40 young leaders who graduated from the Western Bulldogs’ Whitten Project last Tuesday.
Participants attended seminars held by AFL and netball identities, supported fund-raising initiatives at the EJ Whitten Legends game, attained Auskick coaching accreditation and planned a community-based project.
Jack Bartkowicz, Timothy Faoagali, Ashley Kelb, Kasey Woodcock, Hayden Davis, Lachlan Wills, Zach Gervasoni, Sam Jackson, Sara McInnes and Joshua Thomson completed the youth leadership program that seeks to identify and sharpen the skills of young leaders in Melbourne’s west.
Caroline Springs resident Jack Bartkowicz (pictured with former AFL footballer and Bali bombing survivor Jason McCartney and Ted Whitten jnr) won the program’s inaugural You Inspire Me award.
“To meet the son of EJ is a thing to be proud of, and to be recognised by people like this in a peer-nominated award is something special,” the 16-year-old said. “Persistence and hard work pay off … you don’t have to lead from the front.’’
