NICHOLAS Commelley is learning a lot more about himself and Australia as he travels around the country as the Tasmanian winner of the 2012 National Lions Youth of the Year Quest.
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He is joined by state winners Elizabeth Smart, of Victoria, Molly McInerney, of Queensland, Elise Delpiano, of New South Wales, Mia Roberts, of South Australia, and Ishaa Sandhu, of Western Australia, on the one-month tour.
Representing the City of Launceston Lions Club, Mr Commelley said he was encouraged to take part by his debating co- ordinator at Launceston Church Grammar School
"I think the quest embodies the sort of leadership and skills that I want to develop for myself but it also encourages youth to have opinions about local matters of concern to them," he said.
The group is visiting the home towns of each of the contestants and arrived in Launceston yesterday after five days in Adelaide.
After Launceston, they will travel on to Toowoomba.
At each stop they are met by Lions club representatives, who are their guides for the duration of their visit.
Lions Youth of the Year state co-ordinator Jenny Tripptree said the trip was recognition of each individual's achievements in passing through the four levels of the quest to the national final.
She said each of the state winners went through a vigorous process and were judged on their academic attainment, social and cultural understanding, general knowledge as well as public speaking.
City of Launceston Lions Club event co- ordinator Margaret Whitmore said although the bushfires had forced them to skip a visit to Port Arthur, they would spend more time in the North.
The group will visit a variety of places, including Latrobe, Sheffield and Hollybank and will take in MONA and the Salamanca Markets in Hobart.