TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Chris Edwards
Age: 23
Lives: Margate
Occupation: Student/Waiter, Tasmanian NYW Young Member
Likes/Interests: Athletics, Music, National Youth Week!
Favourite animal: Dogs
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite food: Pizza
Favourite book: The Great Gatsby
Favourite movie: Notting Hill
Favourite TV show: Scrubs
Favourite band/artist: The Whitlams
Favourite song: Bad To Me by Loon Lake
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be flying! Boring, but tried and tested.
Someone I admire is Steve Hooker because he has such a good rapport with fans, media, fellow
athletes, deals with pressure well even when he is not in form and is bringing a niche sport into the
spotlight!
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is educational outcomes; I think it is so
important that every child in Tasmania has access to quality education.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because everything is so close! We literally have everything
within about half an hour drive, it’s incredibly unique!
I got involved with NYW because I believe strongly in the ability of young people to make a positive
contribution and NYW is a great way to recognise that.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Kyle Barrett
Age: 17
Lives: Launceston
Occupation: Student, KFC Cook, Australian Army Reservist
Likes/Interests: Community, Freedom, Friends, Family.
Favourite animal: All animals are awesome! But nothing beats
man’s best friend, dogs!
Favourite colour: Blue
Favourite food: Spaghetti Bolognaise
Favourite movie: The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption,
Hawke, The Castle
Favourite TV show: Boston Legal, American Dad, How I met
Your Mother, Blue Heelers
Someone I admire/look up to is Ronald Reagan because President Reagan embodied what many
leaders in the 21st century wish they had! An unapologetic optimism, patriotism, national father figure
and faith within everyday people not mass sectors of government.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is the fact that everyone within our
country and our state should have the ability to shape and turn their life around any way of their
choosing. It’s vital that this state is open for business, apprenticeships on offer for our young people;
university courses available for all our students and employment within Tasmania once study is
complete.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because ... we are a part of one of the best countries on
the face of the earth, but we need to keep it the best. Young people have the ability to seize any
opportunity which they choose however without the willingness and drive which seems to be absent
from so many, some will work hard and succeed while others will wonder what could have been.
I got involved with NYW because it’s great that many projects are conducted within our state to
promote the positive contributions of youth in Tasmania. The best are ones which incorporate
people from many different interests, ages, occupations, locations, cultures and backgrounds. Once
we do this, united communities will truly be a part of our society. These are the type of events which
I will be interested in supporting.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Erin Worth
Age: 20
Lives: Launceston
Occupation: Disability Support and Aged Care Services – Support Worker
Likes/Interests: Hanging with friends, the beach, the environment, making
jewellery, badges and string/cord bracelets, music, helping others
Favourite animal: Domestic – dog, Non- domestic - elephant
Favourite colour: I love all the colours
Favourite food: Anything vegetarian
Favourite book: Skin by A.M Vrettos
Favourite movie: Into the Wild
Favourite TV show: How Not to Live Your Life
Favourite band/artist: Couldn't pick! Mumford & Sons, Bon Iver, Boy & Bear, Ed Sheeran, Angus & Julia Stone
Favourite song: Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars (from The Hunger Games)
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be the power to reach equality worldwide
Someone I admire/look up to is Dr Robert Pierce, the Founder of World Vision. World Vision gives
opportunities and eases the suffering of people in need. Dr Pierce was an American Missionary who in the
early 1950’s travelled around during the Korean War to assist. Once he returned funds were raised and with
the help of a public response, World Vision was founded in September 1950 and was later established in
Australia in 1966. World Vision has now grown into one of the largest aid, assistance and development
organisations. I admire Dr Pierce because of his obvious morals and passion to make a difference. Pierce was
a leader not a follower, a determined and an incredible individual.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passion about is public transport, especially in rural and semi-rural
areas. I’m also passionate about addressing anti-discrimination and unfamiliarity and ignorance of ethnicity and
religious issues.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because growing up in Tasmania has allowed me to receive an
education, to have a roof over my head, safe and clean drinking water, freedom of opinion and expression, to
have safe working environment and the right to seek medical assistance. I am so fortunate, for which I am
forever grateful. I also love our environment and the natural beauty.
I got involved with NYW because I am a very passionate individual who strives to make a difference and I
have always been interested and passionate about local and global issues. I enjoy nothing more than putting
this passion into action.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Megan Lennon
Age: 22
Lives: Hobart
Occupation: Full time university student and volunteer
Likes/Interests: Volunteering, mental health, listening to music,
watching films
Favourite animal: Cats
Favourite colour: Yellow, but I love things that are multicoloured
Favourite food: Chocolate and fruit
Favourite book: A Cage of Butterflies by Brian Caswell or My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Favourite movie: I love animated films such as Despicable Me, Up and Meet the Robinsons
Favourite band/artist: Don’t really have just one. There’s so many that I like a few songs from.
Favourite song: My favourite song changes often but two that I quite like are What Makes You
Beautiful by One Direction and Little Wonders by Rob Thomas.
Favourite TV show: Packed to the Rafters or Scrubs
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be invisibility, so I could make the world better
through anonymous and random acts of kindness.
Someone I admire/look up to is … this a rather tough question. I wouldn’t say there’s one particular
person I look up to or admire. But I’m constantly inspired by all those who I volunteer with.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is mental health because it impacts us
all in some way and it’s important for young people to know they don’t have to go through it alone.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because whilst we don’t always have as many opportunities
as other states/territories there’s still plenty of events and organisations that really embrace young
people. It’s also a beautiful location and it runs at a comfortable pace in comparison to most of
states/territories.
I got involved with NYW because I wanted to be part of something local that would benefit the
community and to also have the opportunity to help create an awesome NYW 2013 in Tassie where
lots of youth want to get involved.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Jerrick Johnson
Age: 19
Lives: Risdon Vale
Occupation: Retail Assistant (Woolworths) & Self Employed
(Xcel Entertainment)
Likes/Interests: DJ mixing, volunteering with community groups
Favourite animal: Dogs
Favourite colour: Orange
Favourite food: Pavlova
Favourite book: The Harry Potter series
Favourite movie: Se7en
Favourite TV show/series: The Big Bang Theory
Favourite band/artist: Pitbull
Favourite song: Back In Time by Pitbull
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be invisibility.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is the misuse of alcohol among
underage drinkers.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because there are plenty of places close to the city where
you can go for a day bushwalk or for a nice bike ride.
I got involved with NYW because… I began my involvement in National Youth Week back in 2006
after I become a member of the Youth Network Advisory Group. In 2011 and 2012 I was the head
organiser for the annual Bellerive Boardwalk Youth Week Festival. National Youth Week has given
the opportunity for me, and many others, experience in planning, organising and achieving events. I
have also met a lot of different and great people along the way which have led to other opportunities
to grow.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Griffin Blizzard
Age: 18
Lives: Smithton
Occupation: Youth Worker
Likes/Interests/: Sailing, abseiling, rowing and general outdoorsy
stuff
Favourite animal: Pony
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Ice Cream (cookies n cream flavour)
Favourite book: The Leadership Book
Favourite movie: Anchor Man! The legend of Ron Burgundy
Favourite TV show/series: Open all Hours, Porridge
Favourite band/artist: Pete Murray, The Frey
Favourite song: Your Love Never Fails
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be 100% Super Strength!
Someone I admire/look up to is my Grandpa, because he was a man of action and a person who had
great passion for young people.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is youth Mental Health. There are so
many young people suffering from mental health issues and I think it is really important to support
these people throughout Tasmania.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because it is a state in which we can get involved, we can
really have a say in what is happening in our local communities, but also at the state level as well. We
can do so much in Tassie and I think it is awesome that we can do things that no-one can experience
anywhere else!
I got involved with NYW because it is an awesome opportunity to celebrate what makes young
people great! Celebrate the achievements that young people have made and really show what young
people can do and are capable of.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Metika Claxton
Age: 18
Lives: Launceston
Occupation: Student
Likes/Interests: Violin, laser tag, and online shopping
Favourite animal: Owl
Favourite colour: Purple
Favourite food: Potato
Favourite book: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Favourite movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Favourite TV show/series: Supernatural
Favourite band/artist: Tegan and Sara
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be to fly.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is being able to have a say in the plans
the government makes for us.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because it has its own uniqueness from the rest of Australia.
I got involved with NYW because it’s great to be a part of.
TASMANIAN NYW 2013 STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE
Name: Jacob Wessman
Age: 15
Lives: Hobart
Occupation: Student
Likes/Interests/Hobby: Bike riding
Favourite animal: Cat
Favourite colour: Green
Favourite food: Pasta
Favourite book: Bible
Favourite movie: Oranges and Sunshine
Favourite TV show/series: Seinfeld
Favourite band/artist: Newsboys
Favourite song: Wherever we go
If I could have a superpower for a day it would be not talking.
An issue for young people in Tasmania I’m passionate about is poverty in the community.
I love being a young person in Tasmania because it is small and wonderful!
I got involved with NYW because I want to hear the voices of young Tasmanians.