2021 Australia Day Award - Young Citizen of the Year
Presented to Aaliah Dennison
This year’s recipient has contributed greatly to her community in the form of sporting pursuits, volunteering and leadership during her relatively short years.
Aaliah Dennison has served as the 2020 Latrobe High School ‘School Captain’ and in addition to her leadership role as School Captain, Aaliah was also named a ‘Numeracy Leader’ and ‘House Captain’ for 2020. In filling these roles Aaliah was recognised as a young lady who is approachable, caring, encouraging, and giving. She strives to ensure that all students are supported to achieve their best, particularly in the role of Numeracy Leader where she mentored and supported the delivery of mathematics programs to the junior grades. Aaliah made the most of every opportunity to grow her leadership skills, attending regional and state events including the United Nations Youth Conference in Hobart and GRIP (Generosity, Responsibility, Integrity, People) Leadership Conference in Launceston.
Aaliah not only leads within her school but has been a competitive gymnast for many years and graded at National Level 8. She was selected in two state teams before being forced out of the sport due to a chronic health condition. Instead of giving up, Aaliah chose to work on gaining Nationally Accredited Coaching Qualifications and is now employed as a coach at her beloved Devonport Gymnastics Club. Head Coach, Leanne Lillico says, “Aaliah is a valued leader and role model at Devonport Gymnastics Club and is giving back to the club through coaching and helping mould our next generation of gymnasts into leaders of the future.”
As a founding member of the Port Sorell parkrun, Aaliah regularly volunteers as a timekeeper and barcode scanner, as well as participating when she can. She is committed to ensuring that this community health initiative remains free for everybody, forever.
Aaliah has followed other members of her family into the sport of AFL Boundary Umpiring where she is one of a growing number of women in this heavily male dominated sport. In 2020 she was elevated into the senior ranks, promoting diversity and equity, whilst providing a valuable service to the players and clubs she umpires games for.
Aaliah is a member of the Devonport Touch Football Association and enjoys playing with her friends in the school roster and has also been selected in the Latrobe High School Track and Field team that competed at a National Level at the Nitro Athletics held in Cairns in 2019. Her sporting achievements were recognised by being awarded the 2020 Inaugural Olympic Change Maker Award. The Australian Olympic Change-Maker program recognises and rewards students who are demonstrating the Olympic spirit through leadership and driving positive change in their communities.
Aaliah excels at her academic pursuits, being recognised every year for her academic excellence at school presentation evenings. She looks forward to beginning her Year 11 at Don College in Devonport, before embarking on a career in Environmental or Taxation Law.