During the last heavy rain that hit Bellingen and Urunga, one local Bellingen girl - Rebecca Newcombe - was at the Bonny Hills Conference Centre at Port Macquarie participating in RYLA (the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards). While at this program Rebecca was encouraged to discover her own leadership potential. Coincidentally Rebecca was to have attended the same conference last year but, as a member of the Urunga SES, she stayed to help her community during another flood in our area and could not register for the program in time.

 It was for Rebecca’s work in the community, within the SES and coaching junior sports, that the Rotary Club of Bellingen chose to sponsor her for the program. Rebecca has been a member of Urunga State Emergency Service (SES) since she was 14 years old. She has successfully completed training in General Rescue, First Aid, Road Crash Rescue, Public Safety and Operations Work. Now 21 years old Rebecca has attended numerous rescue operations ranging from serious road accidents and floods to rescuing cats from palm trees. It was for her dedication to community service that the Rotary Club of Bellingen selected Rebecca for further training which will assist her in her efforts to become a future leader within our community. At the Rotary Youth Awards (RYLA) Rebecca was encouraged to develop her leadership potential. Participants were shown how to become better role models in their community, how to face difficult decisions in important personal, work and social issues, how to express themselves more effectively and most importantly how to develop their own particular talents and skills. The Rotary Club of Bellingen wish to congratulate Rebecca on her achievements and expect that she will be a tremendous asset to the wider Bellingen Community for the future.

The photo is of Rebecca with President Pete Bennetts on the night at which Rebecca "reported back" to the Rotary Club on her experiences at RYLA.