Dorset Rural Youth resurrected

DORSET Rural Youth has been resurrected after an eight-year hiatus and 20 new members are ready to rock and roll as only Rural Youth can.

An information night on April 15 garnered so much support that a committee was elected on the spot, to be led by new president Molly Fletcher from Legerwood.

Molly is a familiar face in the cattle show scene and an Agriculture Certificate II student at Scottsdale High School.

The 18-year-old has long wanted to join Rural Youth, but the closest club at Tamar Rural Youth in Launceston was too far to commute.

“As soon as there was talk of the Dorset Club starting again I was in,” Molly said.

“It’s a great way to get involved in your community, even if you’re not from a farming background, which I’m not.

“Rural Youth is full of opportunity, whether it’s social, travel, work experience or training, and I fully intend to get the most out of it.”

Other Dorset Rural Youth committee members are vice president Charli Hall of Scottsdale, treasurer Rachael Watson of Scottsdale and secretary Sophie Smith of Springfield.

Rural Youth state president Amber Bramich said that all of the Rural Youth clubs ebb and flow with membership, and at times a group of members will “age out” when they turn 30, but overall numbers are strong.

“We had Central Highland Rural Youth form last year and now Dorset this year – it’s exciting to get some new young people involved,” she said.

“There’s so many people in that north-eastern area, many of whom have grown up there and lived and worked around agriculture, and Rural Youth can be a real point of community connection for them.”

The first official meeting of Dorset Rural Youth will be on May 13 at The House Paddock Cafe and anyone between the ages of 15 and 30 and thinking of joining is welcome to attend.