February 27, 2025
Kingaroy Lions Club’s Youth Of The Year competition attracted a big field of 13 students this week eager to take out the prestigious title.
The program aims to foster and encourage leadership qualities in young people.
The Kingaroy entrants faced a string of face-to-face interviews on Tuesday followed by a public speaking competition on Wednesday evening.
The judges took into account the community and cultural involvement of the entrants as well as their academic and public speaking skills.
All but of the two of the entrants came from Kingaroy State High School.
The final speeches – a prepared speech as well as an impromptu speech – were made in front of an audience of club members and supporters at Kingaroy RSL Club.
The three judges were South Burnett CTC CEO Jason Erbacher; retired KSHS deputy principal Tracey Reinbott and retired NAB manager Mike Barrett.
Mr Erbacher said it hade been a pleasure to get to know each of the young people.
He said it had been a strong field and deciding the winners had been a tough decision.
“It was really tight and super close,” he said.
The Public Speaking Award went to KSHS student Talleah Smith.
Talleah is an accomplished dancer, volunteers at the Kingaroy Eisteddfod and is completing a Certificate III in community pharmacy.
He speech topic was “Social Media And Teens”.
Tasleigh Gangemi, from Kingaroy State High School, was named the 2025 Kingaroy Lions Youth of the Year.
Her speech topic was “Psychology Should Be A Compulsory Subject In High School”.
Tasleigh is a 2025 KSHS captain, president of the Student Council, plays the saxophone in the school’s symphonic band, teaches dancing and represents the South Burnett in netball.
She will now go on to compete at the regional competition, which is being hosted by the Kingaroy club, on March 8.
Footnote: Three of the students’ speeches focussed on the importance of maintaining pill-testing in Queensland to stop accidental drug deaths. The current pill-testing trial is due to end on April 19. Health Minister Tim Nicholls’ office confirmed to ABC Radio on Thursday morning that the contract would not be renewed because the State Government believes “there is no safe way to take drugs”.
