YOUR STORY: Fairhome College student Lala Grogan was named regional Lions Youth of the Year at Concordia Lutheran College yesterday.

Lala will compete in the Q3 district final in Brisbane on Saturday, April 2 with the winner of that event heading to Bundaberg at the end of April for the State final.

Six young people, representing Lions Clubs from across the region, were judged at the event co-hosted by the Lions Club of Toowoomba and the Lions Club of Highfields North Eastern Downs. 

Finalist interviews with impromptu and prepared speeches filled the day and provided judges Mardi Smart, representing the event's major sponsor NAB, Graham Miller, Ken Mottram and reserve judge Alan Yorkston with a formidable task in choosing the winner.

All of the participants gave rousing speeches on a variety of subjects including mental health, young people and homelessness, lesbian and gay rights, and the representation of women and minorities in film and television.

The students spoke with knowledge and passion showing insight on their preferred subjects while the impromptu speeches provided some interesting perspectives on lowering the voting age to 16.

Toowoomba State High School Mt Lofty Campus student Jacob Klease was awarded first place for public speaking. 

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