“A LEADER doesn’t always have to be the loudest person ... You don’t always have to go to university to be a leader ... A leader doesn’t have to come from a ‘normal’ family.”
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The discussions were many and fierce, the answers diverse as the Border’s Aboriginal youth gathered yesterday to tackle the who, what and why of good leadership.
It was the second in a two-day workshop by Albury council for the year 7 to year 12 teenagers taking part in the council’s new Aboriginal youth committee and an important stepping stone to giving them the tools needed to make their new roles a success.
“They’ll be deciding everything — when they meet, how often, what’s discussed, what events they’ll run,” John Murray, Albury council’s Aboriginal development officer said.
“Once we get started, I’ll be invisible.
“There’s been too much of adults saying ‘why don’t we don’t this or that for young people’? My point is, why don’t we ask them?”
Turns out, the city’s indigenous youth jumped at the chance - the council expanded its initial plan for a committee of 16 to 20 because of the calibre of applications, most of whom gave up their school holidays for the leadership workshop.
Yesterday they worked with leaders from Albury council grilling them on their jobs, how they got their and their tips for leadership; on Thursday, it was a similar process with local Aboriginal leaders.
“We’ve been posing the question ‘What does it take to be a great leader’ and is it different if you’re an indigenous or non-indigenous person,” Stefan Bramble, a trainer who works with youth, said.
Tahlia Biggs, 17, reckon she’s a bit of both.
“I’m a leader who is indigenous and I’m a leader in an indigenous community,” she declared.
“I’m passionate about my community and I’m doing this because I want to make my community proud — they’re like a big family that’s going to support me in what I do, so I want to give back too.”
Zeke Wighton, 16, said he believed a leader was “someone who displays confidence in their choices and belief”, who was strong-willed but also could listen to people: “They can’t abuse the power they have.”
He joined the committee to not only build his skills but also make a difference for his community, such as by making more safer places.