A teen with a heart of gold has spent cold nights dishing up warm bowls of soup and playing the last post on Anzac Day

A community minded teenager has been given an insight into his local council and how it impacts the community he volunteers for.

Lockyer Valley young citizen of the year and Toowoomba State High School student Cameron Maizey with prison pup in training Tommy. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

Volunteering at a soup kitchen and playing the last post for commemorative anniversaries earned Cameron Maizey the young citizen of the year title for the Lockyer Valley.

But it also gave him the opportunity to shadow Lockyer Valley mayor Tanya Milligan for a day to see how council impacts his beloved community.

Cameron, a year eight student at Toowoomba State High School, started volunteering with the soup kitchen about four years ago.

Lockyer Valley young citizen of the year and Toowoomba State High School student Cameron Maizey. PHOTO: Ali Kuchel

Each Monday night, he would serve hot soup to anyone needing a meal at the Gatton Adventist Church.

On top of that, the Helidon teenager would wake before dawn to play the last post at the Helidon RSL’s Anzac Day service.

The 14-year-old, who also plays volleyball and cricket for his school, said the experience to shadow the region’s leading woman taught him more about leadership.

“It’s a lot different to what I thought it would be,” he said.

“I thought it would be more formal, it’s more relaxed than what I thought.”

The opportunity gave Cameron an insight into how council operates, and how council decisions impact the community.

“It was an interesting and informative experience to be able to shadow the mayor,” Cameron said.

Originally published as A teen with a heart of gold has spent cold nights dishing up warm bowls of soup and playing the last post on Anzac Day