General News
6 January, 2024
Summer reading: Jake’s journey discovers patience, teamwork
SUMMER READING - THE 2023 YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR EVERYONE knows Jake Murphy - the musician and entertainer, young activist with political aspirations and occasional tennis player. The 17-year-old is Loddon Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year, an...
SUMMER READING - THE 2023 YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
EVERYONE knows Jake Murphy - the musician and entertainer, young activist with political aspirations and occasional tennis player.
The 17-year-old is Loddon Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year, an honour that has left Jake humbled ahead of tomorrow’s award presentation in Wedderburn.
It’s an honour that Jake has sitting high with another highly-valued contribution he makes in several Loddon communities.
For the last seven years he has been playing the Last Post and Rouse at RSL and school commemoration services on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
“Playing for the RSL is the biggest honour,” Jake said at the weekend.
“The RSL does a great job helping people and ANZAC Day is a big part of the Australian culture.”
That respect shown by Jake to the ex-service community is matched by his equal respect for others whether in Wedderburn or as a member last year of the regional team to the Victorian Youth Parliament. “I like and respect my community and the people and want to do my bit,” he said.
“Volunteering is the heart of the community ... I was once told a good community is built on volunteers.
“What drives me? I guess it is the people and being connected with them.”
Jake has already been a part of numerous local organisations. He was on the college council and is now a member of the community house committee.
“I’ve picked up the importance of patience and teamwork by being a member of groups and committees,” he said.
“I used to be in a hurry. Working with people has taught me to slow down and work through a logical process.”
Jake’s nomination for the Young Citizen award said: “He’s involved in so many community events as an entertainer, a volunteer, a musician, an employee, a sportsman, a singer, an organist, a bugler, a lobbyist, an academic, a photographer, a journalist, a debater, a junior politician and a charismatic conversationalist. Jake is admired by young and old in his community as a fabulous volunteer with a buoyant and jovial personality and the gift of speech.
“It is no exaggeration to attest that Jake is always beaming the broadest smile. His easy, caring nature and his breadth of knowledge means he’ll be supporting a young person to feel comfortable in a setting one minute, then talking politics with adults the next minute and conducting a brass band made up of musicians five times his age, the next minute.”
Jake has also developed pragmatic traits.
Talking on the future of Australia, he said “I think the day as we know it will be here for a little longer but the date will change”, acknowledging current debate on the day.
“I celebrate Australia Day every day ... the date is irrelevant.”
- CHRIS EARL