Young Achiever Awards - 2011/2012
In March of each year the Club recognises and honours three persons in the age group eighteen (18) to twenty-six (26) years who have achieved outstanding success in the development of their formal education/training, and who have also made a significant contribution in the form of service to the community. The “field” is canvassed under the following vocational categories:
- Arts & Music;
- Science & Technology;
- Sport;
- Business & Public Administration; and
- Social Welfare & Community Service.
Each awardee receives $1000 and a certificate of achievement from the Club. Since 2003, one of the chosen three awardees has been honoured with an award named after one of the Club’s most famous Past Presidents, the outstanding Australian Sir Albert Coates. This awardee receives the same prize as the others but with the certificate of achievement headed The Sir Albert Coates Memorial Achievement Award, and a copy of the biography entitled “Albert Coates – A Life”.
In 2011/2012 were three awards presented by The Hon Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria, to Andrew Asten,Sarah Spottiswood and Amit Menghani (Albert Coates Prize).
Read the speech given by the Governor of Victoria by clicking here.
ANDREW ASTEN “Law and Community Service” (Albert Coates Award)
Andrew graduated from Monash University with first class honours in a double degree in law and commerce. He was awarded a Sir John Monash medal for outstanding achievement.
Andrew joined the Oaktree Foundation in 2007. As the Director of the Schools 4 Schools program Andrew oversaw the implementation of aid and development programs into 21 of South Africa's poorest schools, and developed an engagement program with Australian schools. As Chief Business Development Officer at Oaktree, Andrew raised over $1.5million for work with developing communities. Andrew continues as a member of the Board of Directors at Oaktree.
Andrew is a volunteer solicitor with the Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic. He was a Victorian Finalist for Young Australian of the Year and is an Australia Day Ambassador. He has held leadership roles with the United Nations Youth Association of and represented Australia at The Hague International Model United Nations; has been a volunteer Youth Worker.
Andrew is currently working as a lawyer at Freehills, and is working as a member of the Project Delivery group, working on the tender for and implementation of large public infrastructure projects in Australia. Andrew aims to continue to use his skills to make a difference in the lives of others through volunteer activities and contributing to the development of public policy.
SARAH SPOTTISWOOD “Law and social justice”
Sarah is completing a Bachelor of Law /Bachelor of Arts degree at Monash University. She was an exchange student at the University of California Berkeley and a Prime Ministers Australia Asia Endeavour Scholar at the University of Hong Kong (2011). This has provided her with a valuable understanding of international difference and cross cultural issues.
Sarah has applied these intercultural skills through her work at the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre in 2011. In 2010, she represented Australia at the Japanese Government’s Ship for World Youth Program which brought together young people from different countries to discuss and implement solutions to international issues. Sarah is also an Asia Literacy Ambassador for the Asia Education Foundation.
Sarah has also employed her legal and cultural skills in a number of volunteer positions. Last year she volunteered at the Women’s Aid Organisation in Malaysia. In 2010, Sarah worked as a volunteer with Victorian Women’s Lawyers on an initiative seeking to inform Victorian migrant women from diverse backgrounds of their legal rights. Sarah’s performance has been recognised through various awards including the Australian Olympic Committee’s Pierre De Coubertin Award and the Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Endeavour Award. Sarah is currently completing her degrees and an Honours thesis in international law. She aims to use her skills to assist disadvantaged groups in society both directly and by contributing to the development of public policy solutions.
AMIT MENGHANI “Aeronautical Engineering and Cross Cultural Leadership”
Amit completed an Associate Diploma and then a Degree in aeronautical engineering at RMIT. He is currently using his engineering skills at Gipps Aero, the only company currently producing aeroplanes in Australia. The company is part of Mahindra one of the largest manufacturing companies in India.
Amit has completed research into helicopter accidents and was involved in the formation of Aerospace/Aviation Australia, formally launched as Australian Association of Aerospace and Aviation Industry (AAAAI). He was Membership and Education officer for Young Engineers Australia (YEA-V) for 2010. And he was nominated for the Young Professional Engineer of the Year in 2011.
Amit’s contribution to student activities at RMIT as a member of Student Staff Consultative Committee (SSCC) and Science, Engineering and Technology Portfolio Governance Committees was recognized by the Vice Chancellor. He was awarded LEAD RMIT Award in 2006 and 2008, the Cross-Cultural Leadership Award in 2008 and an International Student Community Service Award in 2008.
Amit was national president of the Federation of Indian student of Australia 2009-2011 represented student needs during the problems that arose in 2010. His capacity to represent views and identify core issues and provide the leadership to move to solutions has been widely recognised. In 2011 the Victorian Government awarded him the Young Victorian of the Year. In 2012 he was awarded the Glory of India Award 2012 by Shri Rajeev Shukla, Hon'ble Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. He is also an active member of the United Nations (UN) Alliance of Civilization Australian Chapter.
|