Each year, students from Years 10 – 12 have an opportunity to participate in the Lions Youth of the Year Program. The program started in Queensland in 1964 and was soon adopted by Lions Australia. It is an annual program to encourage leadership, citizenship and community participation in young people at the time they are finishing school.
Students complete an application and participate in an interview where judges look for “all-rounders" - leadership and communication skills, academic performance and their involvement in sport, cultural and community activities. The second part of the program is a public speaking component where students complete a five-minute prepared speech on a topic of their choice and two impromptu speeches.
Townsville Northern Suburbs Lions Club has been sponsoring students from Townsville State High School in the Lions Youth of the Year Program since 1986. Our Northern Suburbs Lions Club representative, Toni Lanphier, who has managed the program since the mid-90s has always had a close relationship with the English and Humanities Department at Townsville State High School and supported our students in their quest. Toni speaks highly of our students, regarding them as “amazing students" and loves hearing about the successful careers they have gone on to build.