Georgia Ayson
The 18-year-old says she loves to get involved and experience as many things as possible.
"After moving to Gore when I was 7, I took up ice skating, and competed in various competitions around Southland and Otago.
"Then during my time at Gore High School, I took up trap shooting. I just like to try things out."
Squash has been a long-standing passion since she was 11.
"I play interclub, and also volunteer on Sunday afternoons to help with the junior coaching."
Georgia attended the Lions youth leadership course held at Borland Lodge this year, thanks to sponsorship from the Hokonui Lions Club.
"During the camp I became more confident in myself. I also met an amazing group of people from around Southland and Otago," she said.
Time management has loomed large this year since she was made deputy house captain of McNab, where she helps organise sports day events, the Prefects’ Variety Concert house act, and other house competitions. She is also a school prefect, where her responsibilities include helping to organise the variety concert and school ball, and contributing to the year 9 buddy system.
Georgia was proud to represent her patch when competing in last year’s Otago-Southland Junior Young Farmer Competition, where she and her team-mate placed second. This allowed them to progress to the national finals in Christchurch.
In her spare time, Georgia takes pleasure from designing garments, some of which she has entered into the Hokonui Fashion Awards and HETTANZ awards. Last year she completed level 3 in fabrics technology.
"I was thinking about hiring a ball dress this year but decided to make myself one instead."
Next year, Georgia intends to study management in Dunedin.
Achievements: Prefect (2022); McNab deputy house captain (2022); Prefects’ Variety Concert co-organiser (2022); school ball committee (2022); Lions Youth Leadership Course (2022); Gore junior squash coach (2022); Southland Secondary School Sports squash 1st (2019, 2022); Level 1 and 2 with excellence endorsement; merit endorsed in mathematics with statistics level 2 (2021); achieved endorsed in english and economics level 2 (2021); 1st in mathematics with statistics (2021); 1st in fabrics (2019-2021); 2nd in tourism (2021); 2nd in economics (2020); 3rd in geography (2020); merit endorsed in science 101, economics, geography, and mathematics level 1 (2020); Otago/Southland Junior Young Farmer 2nd (2021); HETTANZ Southland Secondary Schools Make and Model craft first place (2019); Chief Scout Award (2019).
Role model: My parents, aunties and uncles.
Hopes for the future: To study management, eventually working in different places around the world.
Emma Fotheringham
The 17-year-old Gore High School prefect has been a member of the student council and SADD committee for the past two years.
She helped organise the school’s Mental Health Awareness Week in 2021 and hopes to continue with this responsibility this year, in addition to working closely with her fellow prefects to help organise the Prefects’ Variety Concert.
One of Emma’s key passions is competitive figure skating, which she began at the age of 11.
She has attended two NZIFSA National Figure Skating Championships, finishing second in the basic novice women's category in 2018 and sixth in the intermediate novice women's category in 2019. In addition, Emma was awarded Ice Sports Southland Best Nationals Performance in 2018, Coaches Shield for Diligence in 2018, Most Improved Senior Skater in 2019 and Most Dedicated Club Skater in 2020. She also has a long-standing participation in volunteer coaching for learn-to-skate classes at her local ice rink, leading to her becoming an accredited Kiwiskate coach.
Emma earned her Chief Scout Award — the highest award for a Scout — testing skills, leadership, initiative and commitment. She has also achieved her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and was chosen to attend Hands on Otago in 2021.
"I have a love for science, so it was really exciting to go and see what university is like," she said.
She plans to study health science at the University of Otago next year, with a view to entering medicine.
"I love learning about the body, and how humans work."
Emma also enjoys volunteering in her community.
Highlights have included volunteering at Albany Rest Home for three months last year before entering another Covid-19 lockdown and, since February, at Hamilton Park Parkrun.
She said she was looking forward to attending university next year.
"It will be nice to be independent, and explore a new environment."
Achievements: Prefect (2022); Level 1 Level 2 with excellence endorsement; Hands on Otago (2021); Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award (2021); school council (2021/22); SADD (2021/22); PTA Diligence Prize (2019, 2021); 1st-equal in economics (2020); HETTANZ Southland Secondary Schools Make and Model craft 3rd place (2019); Chief Scout Award (2019); 1st-equal in science (2018).
Role model: Try to make your younger self proud.
Hopes for the future: To study health science, then medicine, at the University of Otago.
