Community & Business
19 May, 2026
Amelie to take on national challenge
MALANDA’s Amelie Cockrem will represent Queensland at the Lions Youth of the Year National Final this week after winning the State Final recently.
After taking out Overall Winner in Queensland, the Malanda State High student will now go up against the top Lions Youth of the Year (YOTY) contestants from the country’s other five states in Adelaide from this Thursday to next Monday.
Amelie said she was both stoked and quite shocked to have progressed through to the National Final.
“It feels amazing but I was honestly quite shocked and I’m still trying to process it,” she said following her win.
“It still feels a little surreal, especially given the strength of the competition. I’m really proud and honoured to be progressing to the national level where I will be not only representing my local community but also the state of Queensland.”
At the competition Amelie spoke about the idea of being “the person in the arena”, which was inspired by Theodore Roosevelt’s Citizenship in a Republic speech from 1910.
“To be honest I was extremely nervous before going up, but I was thankful that I went first so I could relax and enjoy listening to the other competitors,” she said.
“In the speech, Roosevelt talks about two types of people: those who criticise from the sidelines and those who actually step into arena, face challenges, and take risks.
“He argues that real value lies in effort and courage, not in avoiding failure or judging others. The key idea is that it is better to be someone who tries, despite the risk of failure, than someone who never attempts anything at all.
“That speech has always resonated with me. It’s a reminder to step up even when you’re feeling nervous or tempted to hold back, because it’s often in these uncertain moments where we grow the most.”
The National Final is the final stage of the YOTY competition and Amelie will again present her “Person in the Arena” speech.
“It’s a really significant opportunity, both competitively and personally, as we spend time together and represent our states on a national stage,” the Year 11 student said.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities and experiences Lions Youth of the Year has given me.”
