YOUTH COUNCILLOR VIEW FROM THE TOP
The July meeting of the Blue Mountains City Council had a temporary change to its leadership with the appointment of Youth Councillor Benjamin McGrory to serve as Assistant Mayor and co-chair of the meeting.
Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, guided the 18 year old Blue Mountains Youth Councillor in his role to assist with the meeting proceedings.
Benjamin is a returning Youth Councillor, now in the role for his third year. A Katoomba resident and Sydney Distance Education High School student, Benjamin joined the Youth Council to become a voice for young people in society, particularly students coping with mental illness.
In his previous term in the Blue Mountains Youth Council, Benjamin assisted in planning the Project NOW! Youth Congress and has received training in community consultation.
The opportunity to act in the role of Assistant Mayor and co-chair of the meeting is available to Youth Councillors once a year. Benjamin was selected for the role by random ballot at the previous Youth Council meeting.
At the meeting, the Council unanimously resolved to endorse the membership of the 2017 Blue Mountains Youth Council and thank the outgoing Youth Council members for their contribution to our community and welcome the 13 continuing and nine new members of the Youth Council.
Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said, “We are proud of the Blue Mountains Youth Council. It is an important forum. Promoting young people’s interest in civic life is something we take very seriously.”
The 2017 Blue Mountains Youth Council membership is: Maya Costa, Benjamin McGrory, Brodie Wylde, Aleksandrs (Sasha) Titovs, Paul Mukhin, Maisy Costa, Rohan Grant-Dawes, Shannon Grazotis, Andrew Gunn, Meg Hill, Alexandria Hinley, Sophie Jansons, Jessica Johnson, James Khnouf, Caitlin Marlor, Michael Pankhurst, Jack Prowse, Leah Roscoe-Bynon, Delilah Scott, Adam Tjoelker, Alexandra Whatmuff and Caspar Zauner.
To follow the Blue Mountains Youth Council activities and see photos of the Youth Councillors in action at the Council meeting, visit www.facebook.com/bluemountainsyouthcouncil/
Photo caption: Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, with Blue Mountains Youth Councillor, Benjamin McGrory, who was Assistant Mayor and co-chair at Council’s July 2017 meeting.
