Local Member of Parliament Tony Piccolo is calling on all Gawlerites and Barossans to go online now and vote for our local candidate, Ethan White, in our state’s 2024 7NEWS Young Achiever’s Award People’s Choice category.

Ethan is one of just four rising stars chosen as finalists in the Leadership Award category, which will be decided by a panel of judges.

The 21-year-old is also facing 40 other South Australian finalists across 11 different categories for the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by public vote.

Ethan’s resume includes current Town of Gawler councillor, producing youth program “Off the Couch with Ethan” on Channel 44 to improve mental health and explore nature, involvement with YMCA Youth Parliament, umpiring in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association and the various initiatives, fundraising events and local issues he advocates for.

With Ethan’s impressive credentials, Mr Piccolo is pleased to endorse someone who has shown great passion for his community from an early age.

“As a student at Xavier College, he demonstrated great leadership skills, and it was no accident he was the male College Captain in Year 12,” said Mr Piccolo.

“He is a highly motivated and thoughtful young man and is doing great things for our local community.

“His humility, modesty and maturity are something to behold.”

Ethan is also up against fellow local finalists including Danielle Baker of Barossa Valley (Rural Health Award), Karmin Poulish of Gawler South (Outstanding Apprentice Award) and Benen Hamon of Tanunda (Creative Achievement Award).

While Mr Piccolo would be happy to see any of our local candidates win the award, he was backing Ethan because he was a finalist in the Young Leadership category.

“There are many other outstanding candidates in other categories, but we need young leaders to rise to the top, and we can help them achieve this by supporting them,’ said Mr Piccolo.

Ethan is very grateful and humbled for the opportunity to be named a finalist.

“There are so many incredible young people who have been selected as finalists for the Young Achiever Awards from across the state, and to be named alongside them, I feel quite honoured,” said Mr White.

“The support I have always received from the entire community has been phenomenal, and I would be extremely grateful if you would be willing to vote for me in the People’s Choice Award.

“In particular, I would really like to thank Tony and [Gawler] Councillor Isaac Solomon for their support, I appreciate it immensely.”

Councillor Isaac Solomon was a semi-finalist in the same category before falling out of contention, but Ethan said it was a “tricky situation” running against him due to his inspiring leadership and work not only in the community, but across South Australia.

“He is very much deserving of recognition, and I really appreciate him backing me for the awards moving forward as a finalist,” Ethan said.

Despite the disappointment of not making it through to the finals, Cr Solomon is more than happy to also throw his support behind Ethan.

“Being on Council with Ethan, I’ve witnessed first-hand the commitment Ethan has to bettering our community.

He is someone who chooses to lead by example, and I can’t think of a more fitting person to win this award and I hope that he does.

“I have already voted for Ethan in the people’s choice award, and I hope that others do too.”

Read about all the finalists and vote for your favourite before voting closes Tuesday, 14 May - https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2024-7news-young-achiever-awards-sa-people-s-choice-award-34