Diabetes Youth New Zealand
Diabetes Youth Awards
John McLaren Youth Awards
The John McLaren Youth Awards recognise the pursuit of excellence across cultural, academic and sporting fields by young people with diabetes.
The Awards seek to encourage young New Zealanders with diabetes to achieve their goals despite the daily challenges they face living with the condition.
In 2011, three awards of $1,000 were offered.
2011 John McLaren Youth Award Recipients
We’re delighted to announce the three winners of the 2011 John McClaren Youth Awards – they are: Emmeline Carroll of Christchurch, Samuel Chadwick of Christchurch, and Brydon Harrington of Invercargill.
Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to everyone who applied. Once again, the standard of entries received this year was very high, and it was extremely difficult to select the three winners from such an impressive and inspirational group.
Check back soon to read more about the achievements of the 2011 recipients . .
2010 John McLaren Youth Award Recipients
Thomas Blakeway
Thomas has a passion for downhill mountain biking, with 3 years experience in the sport . He has had Type 1 diabetes for 6 years. The award helped him to be able to attend 4 races in February 2011. 2 races held in Nelson, 1 in Christchurch and the finals in Dunedin. He also works part-time to buy safety equipment for his chosen sport. He is a member of the Christchurch Gravity Mountainbike Club. Thomas’ first race for the season was at the DH series at Victoria Park in Christchurch where he came 9th out of many hopefuls. In the future he hopes to win a National title in Downhill Mountain Biking.
Morgan Curry
Morgan is achieving her goals and living life to the fullest and is a prefect a Tawa College. and has contributed greatly to Diabetes Youth Wellington by contributing in various activites such as starting Denim for Diabetes Day fundraiser at Queen Margaret College, guest speaker for National Diabetes Awareness Week, 2008 Diabetes NZ Christmas Scponship Appeal letter and being a poster girl for Yellow Balloon Day. She also assists with coordinating and running school holiday programmes for children. She has had Type 1 diabetes for 15 years. The award enabled her to travel to China on a education field trip in April 2011, looking at mathematics in a different culture and the effects China has had on modern mathematics. In the future she hopes to study medicine at The University of Otago.
Callum Geddes
Callum has a real passion for sport and has been involved with multisport taking part as a long distance kayaker and cyclist achieving 1st place in the team section. He also achieved 1st place at the Otago Southland secondary schools cycling champs in 2010 and has played for the 1st and 2nd fifteen rugby teams at Dunstan High School. His other passion is horses, he has been riding for 5 years and has been shoeing his own horses for 2 years. In April 2011 Callum and his horse “Beaumont Boy” finished top of their arena and 4th overall in the South Island. He has had Type 1 diabetes for 3 years. He was selected to join a nine strong team to travel to Taupo for a 3 day event competition. The award has helped him to travel to Taupo from Otago. He hopes to one day participate in the Olympics.
Shannon Willoughby
Shannon was accepted into a full year exchange with the EF (Education First) Programme. She left NZ in January 2011 and currently staying with a host family and attending the local high school in the USA. Shannon has always been a high achiever at school, with maths being her favourite subject and has a chieved NCEA LEvel 1 with merit in 2009. Shannon has had Type 1 diabetes for 6 years. She is involved in Rangers (a section of girl guides aged between 14-18 years old) and received a bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and peak award which involved a major service project, leadership and outdoor camping. The John McLaren award helped her to be able to go on the exchange to the USA. When she comes back to NZ she plans to study Aviation Management.
2009 John McLaren Youth Award Recipients
There were many impressive applications for the John McLaren Youth Award, an annual award for achievement to young people with diabetes.
The Award aims to show that young people with diabetes can do great things in their work and achievements. The winners are inspirational to others with diabetes.
The John McLaren Youth Award recognises the pursuit of excellence in the cultural, academic and sporting fields by young people with diabetes. Diabetes Youth New Zealand and Diabetes New Zealand are pleased to announce the 2008 recipients this year’s winners of the $ 1,000 Award:
Jordan Moore
15 years old, from Kaiapoi
Jordan already has an impressive list of dancing successes despite only dancing for 3 years. He was named Best Male Dancer in 2007 and his dance crew Legionnaire won the South Island Street Dance Champs in March 2009. Jordan’s award helped fund a trip in October and will also help towards his tuition and some new dance clothes. Jordan has had Type 1 diabetes for 4 ½ years and is a fine example of how you can overcome any challenges that diabetes brings and be successful.
Erin Saunders
20 years old, from Christchurch
Erin Saunders is from Christchurch and has been Irish Dancing for a number of years. Her award will be used to travel to the NZ Irish Dancing Championships in Auckland with her ultimate dream being to compete in Killarney, Ireland. Erin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2005. She works incredibly hard saving for her trips as well as funding the cost of replacement dance outfits which can cost $2-3000. She still finds time to assist Diabetes Youth Canterbury as a role model for newly diagnosed teenagers.
Kyra Thomson
13 years old, from Wellington
Kyra Thomson will use her award to help with all the costs involved in Rollersports and her goal of being selected to represent New Zealand for the Oceania’s in 2010. Kyra is currently the New Zealand Champion in Elementary Free Skating, Solo Dance and Creative Solo Dance. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2006.
Thomas Wooding
14 years old, from Christchurch
Keen yachtsman Thomas used his award to attend Yachting New Zealand’s National Championships in January. There were travel and coaching costs involved as well as the purchase of a new sail and a wet suit that will enable him to do his insulin shots while on the water. Thomas impressed the judges with his list of sailing accomplishments to date. He has been sailing since he was 9 years old and was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 2 years ago. Thomas’s goal is to be selected for the World Championships.
Our four 2009 winners are outstanding and were selected based on their goals and achievements. These young people with diabetes are inspiring others to realise that diabetes should not stop anyone succeeding or pursuing their dreams or goals.
2008 Winners of the John McLaren Youth Award
$1,000 awards went to Michael Clarke from Rangiora and Sophie Devine from Christchurch.
$500 Awards went to Samantha Darby from Rangitoto College, Auckland and
Zoe Sole from Wellington.
2007 Winners of the John McLaren Youth Award
$1,000 awards went to Simon Millynn and Alexandra Wood
$500 Awards went to Anna Hoek-Sims and Kurtis Tautuhi
2006 Winners of the John McLaren Youth Award
$1,000 awards went to Jordy Jamieson from Auckland and Vicki Connor from Auckland.
$500 Awards went to Christopher Duff from Levin and Daniel Harvey from Manukau.
2005 Winners of the John McLaren Youth Award
$1,000 awards went to Shane Simpson from Orewa and Amy Adams from Hamilton.
$500 Awards went to Joshua Notman from Wellington and Catherine de Vos from Auckland.
2012 Conference Sponsors
DYNZ would like to acknowledge the following sponsors of our 2012 Family Conference:
Gold
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