Recognised for world awareness

By Sarah Schwager
AT THE young age of 15, Berwick’s Nicholas Bell has already achieved more than some people twice his age.
Named Casey’s Young Citizen of the Year, Nicholas has spent most of his high school years helping raise money for communities in need.
The Beaconhills College year 10 student, through a range of fundraisers and activities, is helping build bridges between Casey and East Timor as well as promote global awareness and understanding.
Nicholas said his passion started when he was in year eight and helped organise a Jeans for Genes Day event through the Berwick Village campus.
After attending a seminar in the city on the history and culture of East Timor, he became involved in raising funds for the school’s friendship school in East Timor.
He became a member of the school’s Giving and Community Service Committee and a convenor of the East Timor Friendship Committee, which raised more than $10,000 for the East Timor Pre-Secondary School.
He has also organised free dress days at school and stationery runs for the East Timor school, sending the money overseas to also help support local business.
Nicholas said he was very honoured to receive the award which was presented to him at the Casey Australia Day ceremony on Friday.
“It was such a huge shock. It was the biggest surprise of my life,” Nicholas said.
“There were so many other people that I thought were deserving of this award.”
Nicholas said he planned to spend this year doing his best to find new opportunities to help out in the wider community, such as the 40-Hour Famine, and get more local people involved.