Moranbah local Corbin Wood reflects on a spectacular year

From school dux to Young Citizen of the Year, Corbin Wood has not only excelled in academics but also offers a refreshing outlook on the value of small towns, hard work and understanding war history.

2025 Isaac Region Young Citizen of the Year Corbin Wood, Isaac Australia Day Awards Ceremony, January 24, 2025

Isaac’s Young Citizen of the Year Corbin Wood grew up thinking a country mining town like Moranbah had little to offer him.

Now, after being dux of his year and with plans to chase a law degree in Brisbane, Mr Wood feels more connected to his community than ever.

“I felt more valued in a small town than I would have in a big city,” he said.

Last month, Corbin added the prestigious council award to his heavy trophy cabinet after a year of strong successes as a Year 12 student at Moranbah State High School.

After achieving an ATAR of 97.15, he won the 2024 Peter Doherty Awards for Outstanding Rural and Remote Senior STEM Student Award, the Year 12 JCU Shield Award, the Rotary Club Dianne Brett Memorial Award while also winning the Rotary Club Student of the Year Award, all while captaining his school.

Corbin Wood receiving the Peter Doherty Award, 2024

His secret?

Curiosity.

“It’s not all about being the smartest or the most talented person.

“It’s to be resilient and stay curious,” he said.

Wood is the youngest of four siblings and like many 18-year-olds, will step foot into university for the first time in a couple of weeks.

But his road to the tertiary system has taken a number of turns.

It started at the beginning of 2024 with the difficult task of beating his older sister’s score who had become a lawyer years earlier.

“I didn’t really have any set goals. I just wanted to try my hardest and see what I’m capable of.”

Wood’s main focus in year 12 was science given medicine was a forte he could rely on.

Each morning would require a 5am wake up to pump out some hours studying for his UCAT exams, a main criteria for most universities accepting students for high demand health related courses such as dentistry.

Then, he would arrive at school at 7am to catch up on assignments.

Between working late nights as a bartender and offering tutoring after school on a Wednesday, Wood would make time for piano lessons and volleyball.

Friday evenings provided a respite, if he ever needed it, though his weekends were busy with work and study.

“It didn’t drain me too much if I’m being honest because I knew my limits myself. I always prepared for everything,” he said.

“Preparation over planning, always, because I knew some things wouldn’t go my way so I just had to prepare for what I needed to do and organise myself into that.”

As a school captain, Mr Wood noticed a disconnect between students and the school board.

“I did really like helping planning events for students, because I knew what kids would always wanted when they spoke,” he said

“They wouldn’t speak freely to the SRC, they’d speak among the classes so I got a glimpse of what kids would like at the school.”

He organised Spirit Week – inspired by a few schools south of Moranbah – which was a series of student events to show off the facets of the school.

It involved having separate days dedicated to the arts, sporting achievements, multicultural day and even a careers expo.

“I didn’t really see myself as a leader because people didn’t look up to me that much,” he said.

“But I thought I’d get into it just to make it, hopefully have a meaningful impact to the students.”

Even after receiving results over the threshold for regional students in the UCAT exam, Wood didn’t pursue medicine in his QTAC.

After finishing top three per cent in the state, he decided to convert to the family tradition of studying Law.

“My Aunty’s a lawyer, so she influenced my sister and my sister influenced me,” he said.

His passion lies in modern history, and he’s inspired by figures ranging from Che Guevara to Margaret Thatcher, not because he looks up to them, but merely because they are interesting people.

“My interest in politics was because I found them very interesting people,” he said.

Corbin Wood at the Berlin Cathedral, December 7, 2024

Instead of flying to the Gold Coast with the rest of his cohort, Wood spent Schoolies in London “country hopping” and visited the WWI battlegrounds of Somme, North of France.

Now upon returning to the small town of 9000, Wood has his sights set on an Honours degree in Commerce and Law at the University of Queensland.

But whether it’s showcasing the talent of his school through events like Spirit Week, or tackling the big city, Mr Wood sees worth in his hometown.

“During year 10 to 11, I understood Moranbah a lot more than I did beforehand,” he said.

“I was able to appreciate it a lot more and realise that I’ve had a lot more opportunities that people in Brisbane would not understand.

“When I went to Brisbane for conferences, I realised how disconnected regional and city people can be in the fact that they both don’t understand each other’s way of life.”

By taking advantage of the opportunities, the North Queensland town offered him, Wood hoped to bring a new perspective to wherever he went next.

Corbin felt he couldn’t have done it without the support from Moranbah State High School and his parents over the past 12 months.

For now, he’s able to sit back and marvel at a big year.

“It’s like having moments of ‘how did I do that?’,” he said.

Originally published as Moranbah local Corbin Wood reflects on a spectacular year