By KATH GANNAWAY
A YARRA Junction teenager who rode from Uluru to home to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Council has been awarded the Ian De La Rue Youth Initiative Award for 2014.
Kieren Devisser was 16 and studying full-time when he undertook the 26-day bike ride in August this year, after doing all the planning and fund-raising himself.
The award is part of the Youth Initiative Program of Warburton and Yarra Junction Community Bank Branches and acknowledges the contribution made to the local community by a local person aged between 15 and 25 years of age.
Kieren was presented with the award by bank chairman Peter Kimberley at the bank’s AGM on 27 November.
“Recognising a young person who has adopted a leadership role within the community provides encouragement and is a way our community can also express its thanks,” Mr Kimberley said.
He said the bank was proud to provide an incentive of $1000 to the winner each year to encourage their continued personal development.
He said Kieren was following many outstanding young award winners who had gone on to do great work at home and abroad.
Kieren said the award came out of the blue.
“I didn’t do the ride for anything like that; it was completely unexpected,” said Kieren who will next year complete his VCAL studies at Sports Education Development Australia in Burnley.
The $1000 will be a handy nest-egg for plans he has to set up a charity event business, and if his determination and skill in his first venture is any indication, the encouragement provided by this prestigious award will prove well-founded.
Kieren thanked the Warburton and Yarra Junction community banks for the support they have shown by the award, describing it as a great honour.
The Youth Initiative Award was first established in honour of local businessman and community leader Ian De La Rue, who was inaugural chairman and instrumental in establishing the Warburton Community Bank.
