After a very successful year, 2018’s City of Mandurah junior councillors have bid farewell to their leadership roles at the annual graduation ceremony.
The students, their families and local dignitaries gathered at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club on Thursday, November 22 to celebrate the councillors’ achievements for the year.
The Junior Council is made up of 38 year six students from all 19 primary schools across Mandurah.
This year they focused on spreading awareness about animal abuse and created an impressive masterpiece to share on social media to get their message across to the community.
It was an achievement every councillor said they were both grateful for and proud of.
Former junior mayor and current Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams spoke at the event, congratulating the young leaders on their efforts and successes this year and wishing them all the very best in the future.
“About 20 years ago now, I was involved in the junior council program and I’ll always remember it and I hope that you will all always remember it,” he said.
“Lots of things happen in our school lives and you learn lots of things – algebra for example you probably won’t remember much about but I think what you will remember is your period of time as a junior councillor.
“We need leaders with resilience, we need leaders who are prepared to stand up and fight for the greater good.
“What I hope is that your involvement in the junior council program has given you the opportunity to explore some of those skills and develop some of those ideas.
“Good luck on your leadership journeys, enjoy what is to come.”
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Junior mayor Elizabeth Eppen-Van Der Aa said the experience was one she will never forget.
“I was shocked to begin with as junior mayor but it has taught me the responsibility a leadership position like this means,” she said.
“Junior council has taught me many things including that everyone has a voice and no one has the right to make you stay silent.
“Everything I have learnt or done this year has either been a thrilling experience or a fantastic learning curve.”
