Published on Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 12:46:31 PM
On Friday 28 November, Shire President Cr Linda Balcombe, CEO Scott Wildgoose, and Coordinator Community Development and Services Andi Dackins attended the 2025 Tidy Towns award ceremony after being named a finalist for the award category: Community Action and Wellbeing. This nomination was a result of the YMe! YNot? Connecting Youth Expo which took place in April this year.
The nomination overview read: ‘On 16 April 2025, the Shire of Gingin hosted its first Connecting Youth Expo, empowering young people through leadership, enterprise and access to services. Supported by grants, sponsors and local businesses, the event attracted 220 youth and 230 students who engaged with the Instruckta training truck. A passport system encouraged interaction with service providers, while 60+ Gingin District High School students contributed via the enterprise program. Twelve students ran microbusiness stalls under a dedicated marquee. Youth-led entertainment included music, dance, karate and a talent show. Services represented mental health, emergency services, apprenticeships and road safety. Volunteers from Scouts and cadets supported the event. Its success has inspired a new initiative -Palettes and Plates – to expand youth enterprise across neighbouring shires. The Shire has also embedded the YME? YNOT? Program to support youth entrepreneurship long term.’
Whilst we weren’t named the recipient of the award, we are incredibly proud to have been a finalist and to have put together such an impactful event to support our youth.
We would like to thank the sponsors the Department of Communities, Road Safety Commission Western Australia, and Community Bank Gingin and Lancelin who supported us in hosting the Connecting Youth Expo 2025.
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