The Western Bulldogs celebrated the Young Leaders of the 2014 Whitten Project with a Graduation Ceremony on Monday 27^th October at Victoria University Whitten Oval.

The ceremony was hosted by graduating leaders Jes Evans and Scott Peacock-Pereira and included guest presentations from Melbourne Vixens captain Bianca Chatfield and Western Bulldogs Board Member Kylie Watson-Wheeler.

In recognition of their contributions to the project and community, Young Leaders were presented with a framed certificate of graduation, a Whitten Project Football Jumper and a commemorative yearbook by senior council representatives.

The night was full of highlights but in an impressive display, Maddison Wood of Melton City Council took to the stage to share her personal experiences with the 180 plus guests that included Brimbank City Council Administrator Jane Nathan, Melton City Council Mayor Bob Turner, Maribyrnong City Council Mayor Grant Miles, Hobsons Bay City Council Mayor Sandra Wilson and Moonee Valley City Council Community Manager Adam Boyle. 

“The Whitten Project has been such a great experience, I have learnt so much”, Wood said.

All of these skills are sure to help me in the future. They will help me when I’m going for a job and I’ve made so many new friends and contacts along the way.”

Wood even had some advice for anyone thinking of applying next year:

“I would definitely recommend The Whitten Project to anyone.  It can help you become a better leader if you’re only starting to come out of your shell or even if you are already out there and being leader.  It gives you great opportunities and is very fun.”

The Graduation Ceremony also included the presentation of the “You Inspire Me Award” to Hobsons Bay Young Leader Will McKenzie who was voted by his fellow Young Leaders as the person who had best personified the project values of honesty, respect and teamwork.

Inspiring the next generation of leaders of the west and beyond, The Whitten Project has provided 70 young men and women in Years 9 or 10 an exciting range of life, civic and sporting experiences to develop their leadership capacity through elite sporting environments and community experiences.

The unique initiative is delivered in partnership with Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank and Glenelg Shire councils, the AFL, AFL Victoria, Netball Victoria, and Sport and Rec Victoria with support from the Western Region Football League and Victoria University.

Applications for the 2015 project will be available from The Whitten Project website from February 1^st 2015.