20 Redlands young guns revealed, vote now for most influential
VOTE NOW: Which young gun under 25 years of age is having the biggest influence in Redlands? SEE THE LIST AND VOTE
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From professional athletes, small business owners, entrepreneurs, community advocates and big-hearted volunteers, Redlands has a multitude of talented and inspirational young people.
With a drive for success and a mind for business, these Redlands young guns are making their mark on the region and beyond.
Redlands Community News has listed 25 talented community members aged 25 or under who are using their influence and skills to succeed.
Find out who they are and then scroll to the bottom of the (alphabetically ordered) list to tell us who you believe is having the biggest influence on the region.
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DANIEL ANNABLE, 15
The Victoria Point Sharks player represented the Brisbane Lions Academy at the 2022 National under 16 carnival, showing his class as an underage player.
The Cleveland State High School student has a high football IQ and an exceptional work ethic.
Daniel starred in the under 15 National schoolboys last year, where his form warranted an All-Australian selection.
Daniel also plays cricket and basketball.
CHLOE BATH, 17
Chloe is in Year 12 at Cleveland District State High School and completing her ATAR, studying the electives of dance, film, modern history and tourism.
She has danced from the age of three in the styles of classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and hip hop and is working towards a career in the commercial dance field.
Chloe dances and teaches at Redland Dance and Pilates.
She has studied jazz, character, and classical ballet through Redland Dance’s 3D extension program under the tutelage of Elena Mason (former Queensland Ballet Academy), Hao Bin (National Ballet of China, Queensland Ballet) and Terri Crilly (Queensland Ballet).
Chloe holds her Ballet Conservatoire Senior Level certificate.
She also successfully auditioned for the Australasian Dance Collaborative‘s Youth Ensemble in 2022 and 2023
She is working with the ensemble in its creation of Echo, being performed in August at the Judith Wright Arts Centre.
Chloe has also recently auditioned for full time dance programs for 2024.
She has accepted a place at Brent Street in their full-time performing arts course in Sydney.
OLIVIA CHISSELL, 19
Motivated and inspired by helping others, Olivia Chissell holds several leadership and advocacy positions and is passionate about learning and volunteering.
Studying a Bachelor of International Studies majoring in International Relations and French at UQ, Olivia also completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program while school captain at Cleveland District State High School.
Olivia is an events officer for Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA), dedicated to bringing events to students and young professionals based in Brisbane, encouraging engagement in International Affairs.
She also in the General Executive University of Queensland United Nations Student Association (UQUNSA), aiding in the implementation of activities organised by UQUNSA, a registered charity.
Olivia has received the Forum Communicators Bursary 2022, a bursary in recognition of success in the field of public speaking, presented by the National Council of Women Queensland.
The 19-year-old has also received The Young Woman in Public Affairs Award, a bursary in recognition of success of the pursuits of a young woman in a public affairs industry presented by the ZONTA club of Wynnum-Redlands.
She has worked at McDonald’s for more than a year and earned crew member of the month, 12 awards for excellent performance, the annual award for customer service and after only five months was promoted to crew coach.
Olivia volunteers as a member of her local Lions Club and enjoys football, long-distance running and playing the drums and French horn.
VANESSA FENG, 17
Vanessa is an international student at Cleveland District State High School and in her second year of the International Baccalaureate Program (Year 12).
Raised in China, it has always been a dream of hers to study in Australia.
Vanessa’s passion is science and her aim is to improve the lives of other people through scientific innovation.
She has a long list of astounding academic and community achievements.
These include:
- ANU-AAMT National Mathematics Summer School, Leon Poladian Full Scholarship (2023)
- Professor Harry Messel International Science School, University of Sydney Physics Foundation Full Scholarship (2022)
- Individual Winner, Queensland Premier’s Coding Challenge (2021)
- ABC Training & Consulting STEM Champion Scholarship (2021)
- Education Queensland International Student Ambassador Scholarship (2021)
- Harvard Medical School Best Practices for Biomedical Research Data Management (2022)
-Year 9, 10 and 11 Dux
- University of Queensland Science Ambassador (2022-2023)
- Griffith University Beverley and Jock McIlwain Award for Excellence in Science
- Stanford University STEM Internship
She works three jobs to fund her tuition fees in Australia, which has amounted to tens of thousands of dollars over the past few years.
When she’s not studying, topping her classes, volunteering to lead learning initiatives at school and being school captain, Vanessa is working in local shops and cafes to lessen the financial burden on her family.
She has been unable to visit her family in China for four years due to her home country’s covid travel restrictions.
A GoFundMe has been launched to raise $7000 to cover Vanessa’s Education Queensland International tuition fees for Semester 2, 2023.
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RAPHAEL GEESU, 15
Raphael is a young boy who oozes class on the AFL field.
The Brisbane Lions U16 Academy athlete has elite kicking skills and blinding speed.
He is a talented small forward with great goal sense.
His form in the 2022 National Under 16 Development Championships showed he has a great future in the game.
Raphael is also a talented basketballer.
SOPHIE HANELY, 21
Former car addict Sophie Hanley joined TAFE Queensland’s Senior College with an eye studying to become an engineer.
“Spending weekends at Willowbank Raceway with my dad and being with him when he worked on his car, I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with race cars eventually,” Ms Hanely said.
Studying under her supportive teacher and mentor, Tanya Noreen, Ms Hanely gained the skills and confidence to graduate from Year 12 and obtain a Certificate II in Engineering.
However, the Cleveland native had a creative spark that she wanted to explore.
Thanks to the confidence her Senior College training and teacher gave her, she took the leap to turn her passion into her profession.
Combining her creativity with her love of animals, she decided to retrain through James Bennett Grooming Academy as a junior dog groomer.
She trained with award-winning Salon La Casa De Pooch, specialising in hand scissoring, breed-specific grooming, Asian fusion/teddy Grooming, hand stripping and de-sheds.
“I have found my true calling,” Ms Hanely said.
“I love working with my team as an animal groomer, and I get a real kick out of seeing their owners’ faces light when they collect a dog that I’ve groomed, and they see how beautifully pampered their pooch is.”
RILEY, 21, WILL HIGGINS, 19
RILEY, 21
Riley works as a personal trainer and finds time to trains for 10 athletic events at an elite level while studying, working and coaching.
He is studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries Music at QUT and coaching athletics at Iona College, the Wynnum Manly Little Athletics Club and is a member of the club’s committee.
He teaches drumline and percussion once a week at Rochedale State High School and is a talented musician, with pub choir and ABC 90th celebrations under his belt.
On the athletics track in 2023, Riley has silver medals at the Australian Uni games athletics championships for Decathlon and hurdles, along with a silver medal in the open decathlon at the Queensland Athletics Championships.
He earned a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles at the Queensland Athletics Championships and placed fifth in Australia for open decathlon at only 20 years of age.
WILL, 19
At just 19, Riley’s brother Will studies a double university degree, works a part-time job, undertakes a music apprenticeship and competes on the national athletics stage.
Will studies a Bachelor of Arts - Music & Teaching at QUT, works part-time at Jb Hi Fi and is completing an internship as a sectional assistant with Terrace Music department.
Will has been a member of the Qld Athletics team for the past eight years straight.
Will also coaches at the Terrace Athletics Coach and Wynnum Manly Little Athletics Club.
This year he won a gold medal in the U23 men’s hammer throw, bronze in the Australian U20 hammer throw and in 2022, was the Oceania bronze medalist and listed 83rd in the world, representing Australia in the U20s age bracket.
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EMILY HILLER, 17
While studying at TAFE Queensland‘s Senior College, Emily is also a Year 12 student who has recently participated in an Entrepreneurial assessment and invested this $20 to start her business venture.
Her teachers (Liz Morgan and Cath Smeeton) and Principal Craig Eades have also supported this project.
She created a candle business (Wick & Worth), with all profits support domestic violence victims and women who are currently homeless by providing care packages.
Her candles were so popular that they sold out within one day.
She has fundraised extra money and donations and collected sanitary products, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tissues, socks, hairbrushes and hygiene essentials to pack up and donate to the Redlands Community Centre, DV Connect and Share the Dignity.
Through her donation drive initiative, she has developed strong communication and networking skills, which she is using to serve those serving the local community’s most vulnerable members.
IMIGENE KEDACIC, 20
Imigene graduated from TAFE Queensland’s Senior College program to gain the confidence to start her dream career.
As a high school student who struggled in the traditional classroom, she found an alternative way to study with TAFE Queensland‘s Senior College program.
She began studying towards a career in real estate.
“Because I knew I wanted to work in real estate after high school, my teachers helped me prepare to get the job of my dreams in an industry I‘m passionate about,” she said.
TAFE’s Senior College at Alexandra Hills helps students with practical education separate from the traditional system to complete their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and work towards gaining an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Imigene said the flexibility of her timetable allowed her to study for a Certificate of Retailing while still in high school.
She began working at LJ Hooker in Cleveland in 2022 and was recently promoted to Adam Gould Executive Assistant, working for Gould Estate Agents powered by LJ Hooker.
TAYLA MCFARLANE, 16
Redlands City Council’s 2023 Young Citizen of the Year, from Ormiston, Tayla McFarlane launched her fashion label, 7roses, when she was just 11.
At the 2022 Ekka Natural Fibres Competition she won all five categories she entered while also winning Open Natural Fibres Champion and Grand Champion.
She was named Junior Designer of the Year at the 2021 Apex Australian Teenage Fashion Awards.
Tayla began sewing at age seven and said her dream was to be accepted into the prestigious London College of Fashion and take her brand 7roses internationally as a high-end fashion label.
Her label was named in honour of her father, Andrew McFarlane, an Australian motocross sports champion who died after a crash in 2010.
Tayla designs and produces her own unique couture pieces under the label 7roses.
She showcased them in major fashion shows in 2022, including the Brisbane Fashion Festival, Brisbane Fashion Month and Designer Q.
As well as school, she spends more than twenty hours per week designing and pattern making.
Tayla has been entering fashion competitions since she was 11.
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LAURA MCKILLOP, 20
Laura was the leading Australian junior steeplechaser in 2021, qualifying for the World U20 Championships that year with a 22 second personal best and 10th fastest in Australian junior history.
Her first race was as a seven-year-old at the QLD All Schools Cross Country.
At primary school she was involved with touch football, swimming.
She also went on to play in a semi-professional basketball league.
Committing to athletics in Year 9, McKillop has been a State Championship athlete since she was 11.
She ran her first 3000m steeplechase at the start of 2021 and three months later won the National title in a time of 10:46.02.
It was a promising time as it was 10 seconds outside what would be later announced as the Australian qualifying standard for the 2022 World U20 Championships.
She is studying for a Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in Physical Education and Mathematics at QUT, with part-time work as a school coach and venue manager.
PAYTON MCLACHLAN, 18
In his final year of a nursing diploma, 18-year-old Payton McLachlan has worked as an Assistant in Nursing in aged care and disability in Cleveland and Victoria Point since 2021.
During his work experience, he helped nursing teams by providing residents with personal care and community assistance to make their day as enjoyable as possible.
While on placement, he continued studying and bringing his industry experience back to TAFE Queensland’s Alexandra Hills campus classroom to help his classmates understand what to expect in the real world.
“Working in aged care and disability is a great way to give back to the community, no matter how small the contribution,” Mr McLachlan said.
McLachlan is looking forward to graduating at the end of 2023 and hopes to work full-time in the industry one day.
TRENT NEILSON, 20
Trent graduated from Sheldon College in 2020 and is studying a Bachelor of Advanced Science in Biomedical Science, with a major in Biomedical Science and Bioinformatics.
He is in his third year of study at the University of Queensland.
His exceptional academic credentials and dedication have landed him a coveted research opportunity with the head of a cancer therapeutics laboratory at UQ.
He was the sole student selected from a pool of highly competitive applicants to work on the project.
The research project focuses on advanced cancer therapies.
Upon completing his studies, he wanted to pursue post-graduate studies in medicine with the ultimate goal of becoming a doctor and continuing his research work.
He has a passion for science and a dedication to making a positive impact in the medical field.
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ALEX POPE, 16
Another Victoria Point AFL Club prospect, Pope is a wingman possessing great speed and dynamite kicking skills on both sides of the body.
He has a tremendous work rate enabling him to amass high possession rates in all games he plays.
Alex was in exceptional form for the Lions Academy in 2022, which culminated in him being selected in the Queensland under 17 team as an under ager taking on Vic Metro.
His representative honours include: U17 Queensland, U16 Brisbane Lions Academy, U15 Queensland Schoolboys.
KASEY TURRALL-POULTER, 20
Kasey Turrall-Poulter, a 20-year-old aspiring nursing student, is pursuing her education at TAFE Queensland with a strong desire to serve as an enrolled nurse in the Redland’s community.
Turrall-Poulter‘s pursuit of excellence in her diploma course this year is a prelude to her continued academic progression towards becoming a Registered Nurse and specialising in the field.
Her passion for the industry stems from her desire to learn and utilise her nursing skills to perform a range of clinical tasks that alleviate patient discomfort, enable their recovery, and bring smiles to their faces.
Turrall-Poulter relishes the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the hospital environment and derives immense satisfaction from watching patients overcome their illnesses and return home.
LEONARDO, SOVANNARY and KALLIYAN SEREMET
The three Sheldon College siblings have incredible athletic talent, dedication and have goals to compete in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
LEONARDO, 14
At the recent Queensland Athletics State Track & Field Championships he won four gold medals, taking out the under 15 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump events.
At the Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships last December, Leonardo won gold in the under 14 long jump, with a massive personal best jump of 6.33m.
He also won silver in the triple jump, bronze in the 200m sprint and picked up two more silver medals in the relays.
At the 2023 Coles Australian Little Athletics Championships in Melbourne, Leo claimed five medals.
A state level swimmer, he also plays club basketball on Friday nights, does six sessions a week for the college’s swimming team and three sessions of running a week.
SOVANNARY, 15
Sovannary claimed silver in the U16 triple jump at the Australian All Schools Track & Field Championships, with a new personal best jump of 11.66m.
She also came fifth in the long jump,
At the 2022 Athletics Australia National Track & Field Championships, Sovannary won bronze in the Under 16 high jump.
Sovannary also placed fifth in triple jump, eight in long jump and 12th in the 90m hurdles, with personal best performances in all three of these events.
At the 2022 Queensland Athletics State Championships Sovannary won gold in sprint hurdles, silver in long jump and silver in triple jump.
Sovannary also has golds at the Oceania U16 Championships, 2022 for triple Jump and long jump, the 2022 Queensland All-Schools Championships in triple jump and the 2021 Queensland 10-14 All-Schools Championships in triple jump.
Sovannary does touch football friday night and for school sports she does volleyball, basketball and soccer.
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KALLIYAN, 17
Completing Year 12, Kalliyan has her sights set on doing athletics at an American college.
At the 2022 Queensland Athletics State Championships, Kalliyan won gold in high jump and silver in long jump.
She competed in the gruelling heptathlon at nationals a few weekends ago and finished sixth, an impressive result given the fact she competed in the U20s and came into it underdone.
From 2018 to now, Kalliyan has a massive list of top 10 finishes at a host of state and national competitions for high jump, long jump and 200m.
After school Kalliyan would love to study the fields of sports science, exercise science or sports psychology.
HARRY TASKE, 15
The Cleveland District State High School student is not only a touch football superstar, he has volunteered his time often for important community causes.
Harry is completing a school-based carpentry apprenticeship with Z&A Constructions, works at Bunnings and is a Queensland Touch referee.
Harry has held a large amount of leadership positions at school and on the touch football field.
On-field positions include: South Queensland Border Districts Touch Football Youth Ambassador, Cleveland District State High School Mentor Touch Football, Redlands Touch Football Mini Muddies Coach and All Abilities Coach and Redlands Touch Football Junior Development Mentor.
At Ormiston State School he was the school’s sports captain, a member of the student council and Junior Playground Leader, member of the Senior Choir and Senior and Junior Band Leader.
Harry has been awarded the Queensland Young Achiever Community Volunteer Award, Redlands City Coast Young Legend of the Year, Redlands City Coast Local Hero Award,Cleveland District State High School Sports Integrity Award and Iona College Old Boys Award for Service and Leadership.
Volunteering for many community causes, Harry has put his hand up and been a part of community campaigns such as: Donald Simpson Community blanket drive for the homeless (2017), Micah Backpack Drive for Child Victims of Domestic Violence (2018), Sports Donations Drive for children in drought affected areas of Australia (2019), RizeUp Donation Drive for young women who have escaped Domestic Violence (2020) and Donation Drive for Oncology Children’s Ward – items needed for recovery (2022).
VOTE IN OUR POLL FOR REDLANDS’ MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG GUN
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