Altona Meadows’ Gabi Duke, Hobsons Bay’s Young Citizen of the Year in 2014, speaks with Goya Dmytryshchak.
What’s your connection to Hobsons Bay?
I live in Hobsons Bay, I study in Hobsons Bay. I’ve lived in Altona Meadows 18 years, my whole life. Home sweet home.
You’re a former Hobsons Bay Young Citizen of the Year. Tell me about your community involvement?
I work mostly with youth services. First I volunteered in Future Leaders Unite – that’s now Leaders of Today – but I stopped halfway through this year for school. But I’m still involved in the Hobsons Bay Westside Freeza. It’s a youth engagement program that’s centred around music, arts, culture events that engage young people in a safe manner. Freeza is like an alcohol and drug-free zone. And I volunteered in Youth Parliament as well.
What do you like about Altona Meadows?
What isn’t there to like about Altona Meadows! It’s mainly the community environment. I know everyone in my court, which is great. Everyone is so lovely. And I also love that there’s lots of parks, especially in the middle of Altona Meadows. And I love that we’ve got aged communities, we’ve got young communities, we’ve got all in between and everyone’s welcome.
What would you change?
That road that leads from Altona to Altona Meadows (Queen Street) – that needs two lanes. There’s also flags in Queen Street, right near the basketball stadium – I would increase things like that in the community, things that showcase the art of young people. And also the skate park there, it really engages young people. I feel like we need more things like that.
What’s your favourite cafe or eatery?
I love Favor and Grace (in Laverton). It’s got really nice milkshakes. And I also like Abby’s Pizza (Altona Meadows) – it’s a great pizza place. I really love, in Williamstown, Al Porto Vecchio. I love it because it’s got cheap meals, which is really important because it always has to be good economically. Out in the backyard, it’s really gorgeous. They’ve got trees … you can see the wildlife, you can sit in the sun or the shade and it’s just a really good family environment.
What are you passionate about?
Engaging young people. One thing that I noticed in high school was that so many people would love to do things within the school community but they wouldn’t like to do things within the local community. I feel like engaging with young people is so important, but I don’t think that the wider community knows that they have things to offer.
Nominations are open for the 2017 Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year awards. Winners will be announced on Australia Day next year. Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, December 2. Forms are available from the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre and local libraries, and online at hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/citizenawards.
