![\"\"](\"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20141203brookelavaring.jpg\" "\\"20141203")
<\/a>December 4, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n It’s not every day that a teenager from Benair gets to shake the hand of the US President but that’s exactly what happened during the recent G20 in Brisbane.<\/p>\n And almost amazing is the fact that Brooke Lavaring’s membership of the QCWA Young Leaders made the momentous occasion possible.<\/p>\n President Barack Obama delivered a speech at the University of Queensland on November 15 aimed at the young people of Australia.<\/p>\n Top of his agenda was climate change, and he urged his young listeners to keep raising their voices and imagine a new future.<\/p>\n Sitting in the front row while the audience applauded was Brooke, 14, all thanks to the QCWA.<\/p>\n The Country Women’s Association was one of eight community groups entrusted with decorating a letter on the 25m long BRISBANE sign erected at South Bank as part of the G20 cultural celebration held in conjunction with the summit.<\/p>\n The QCWA decorated the “E” and in return they were allowed to nominate 15 young people aged under 30 to attend President Obama’s youth address at Queensland Uni.<\/p>\n Brooke, who is connected to the Kumbia QCWA branch, was surprised when she received an invitation from the State Leader asking if she would like to nominate to attend.<\/p>\n It’s not a simple process to meet the President, even if you’re going to be one of about 2000 people in the auditorium.<\/p>\n Brooke had to go through a screening process ahead of her trip to Brisbane, and then had to provide photo ID and pass through a metal detector to enter the auditorium.<\/p>\n This caused a momentary issue when the alarm sounded … but it was just her QCWA badge!<\/p>\n Brooke made sure that she arrived at Queensland Uni early.<\/p>\n “I was one of the first people in so I got a front row seat which was very good,” she said.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Year 9 Kingaroy State High School student found herself sitting just 10-15m away as he spoke, and she was very impressed.<\/p>\n “He was down-to-earth; he seemed very level-headed, responsible,” she said.<\/p>\n However, his charisma and style also shone through giving him a “mystical” quality.<\/p>\n “It was a very powerful speech,” Brooke said.<\/p>\n “It was mainly about climate change and current global crises like Russia and Ukraine.<\/p>\n “He told us to remember the younger generation are the ones that are going to grow up and lead the world.”<\/p>\n At the end of his speech, President Obama came down from the stage and walked in front of the barriers to meet some of the audience members.<\/p>\n Because Brooke was in the front row, she was amongst the first to rush up, which is how she managed to shake his hand.<\/p>\n The QCWA Young Leaders take members aged from 6 to 25, and Brooke would recommend it to anyone.<\/p>\n “It’s good to be involved in an organisation, and then something like this happens. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the President,” she said.<\/p>\n There was definitely a South Burnett flavour to the audience at President Obama’s speech.<\/strong><\/p>\n As well as Brooke in the front row, fellow QCWA Young Leaders Serenette Crombie (ex-Kingaroy) and Melissa Crawford (ex-Kumbia) were also present, as was Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington.<\/p>\n . @DebFrecklington<\/a> meets @BarackObama<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zGxcV9akn8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Sarah Vogler (@SarahLVogler) November 15, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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From Twitter<\/strong><\/h3>\n