mmg.com.au

Conargo Shire teenager Isabel Osborne, who last year graduated from Deniliquin North Public School, has already demonstrated she is a young girl with ‘‘high personal standards’’ and who is ‘‘mature beyond her years’’.

Her achievements, particularly in debating and public speaking, earned her the Conargo Shire Young Citizen of the Year Award on Australia Day.

‘‘Isabel has done really well in debating and represented the Riverina at Public Speaking and debating competitions in 2011 and 2012,’’ Cr Mac Wallace announced at Saturday’s ceremony.

‘‘In both years the team was runner-up in the Riverina final after debating several schools across the district.

‘‘In 2012 Isabel underwent a selection in Wagga for the Riverina Representative Debating Team.

‘‘She was one of four Year 6 students who were selected and travelled to Sydney for a four day State Debating Final in December 2012.

‘‘Isabel also competed in the NSW Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition where she was required to deliver a four minute speech from a list of topics provided by the NSW Arts Unit. Entrants were given five minutes preparation time to deliver an impromptu speech on a topic provided by the adjudicators.

‘‘Isabel has taken to debating and public speaking like a duck to water.

‘‘She won the regional competition at Corowa and went on to win the Riverina Final at Albury. Isabel then represented Western NSW and the Riverina at the state final in Sydney.

‘‘To top all this off, Isabel was awarded Dux of the Deniliquin North School in 2012.’’