“Celebrate Peace” is the theme of the 2006-07 Peace Poster Contest. Lions clubs can sponsor the program in their community for children in local schools or organized, sponsored youth groups. Students, ages 11, 12 or 13 on November 15, 2006,are eligible to participate. Through the contest, students are encouraged to visually depict their interpretation of the contest’s theme. Kits are now available for entry to this years competition.

The Quest is designed to encourage student interest in leadership and the qualities required to take an active and constructive role in the community. It does this by selecting an outstanding young person from candidates throughout Australia to travel overseas and act as an ambassador for Lions Clubs International Multiple District 201. The international travel is conducted under the auspices of Lions Clubs International.

Students from many nations meet to discuss a wide range of international issues. They also have the opportunity to learn leadership, management and community service skills from groups of professional men and women throughout the world.

The Quest seeks a high level of academic, leadership, sporting, public speaking and citizenship achievement in its potential winners. By emphasising these qualities it hopes to provide outstanding role models for the youth of Australia and an overall increase in the confidence of young men and women.

The Quest is an excellent means of assisting Australia’s youth and promoting the essential role of leadership development and community service organisations in maintaining Australia’s high standard of living.

History of the Youth of Year Quest.

The Lions Youth of the Year was the brainchild of the late Jamie Jamieson, a loved and respected member of the City of Brisbane Lions Club.

In 1964, Lion Jamie Jamieson formed a committee composed of Lion Sid McDonald (Chairman), Lions Arch Merrin, Arthur Smout and Bill Jones. The Committee was to investigate a Youth of the Year Project. This Committee pioneered and supervised the quest for a number of years.

At first, the Quest was confined to metropolitan Brisbane.  The first Final was conducted at, Convention Hall – Lennons Hotel – Brisbane on 17th December 1964, for the first 2 years it was conducted in Queensland only. In 1965, Lions Clubs based in Sydney also established a quest in their local areas. In 1966 the national convention held in Brisbane adopted the Quest as a multiple district project. Lion Sid McDonald was appointed coordinating Chairman, a position he occupied with distinction for a period of ten years.

The Quest originally suggested by Jamie Jamieson was for boys, as there were numerous quests already for girls in operation. In 1979, it was decided that girls would be admitted into the Quest. The first integrated Youth of the Year Quest was held in 1980.

The Quest continues to grow in stature and is undoubtedly one of the best and most successful National Projects undertaken by Lions.

The Quest process

The main activities involved in the running of Lions Youth of the Year Quest include initial promotion in schools and local communities; judging of candidates; selection and announcement of the national winner; arrangements for the winner’s overseas travel and attendance at an International Youth Camp and other finalists travel throughout Australia.

Judging takes place at Club, Zone ( in some Districts only ), Region and District levels leading to State and National finals. The final judging for the Quest will be held at the Lions Multiple District Convention next May.

Prizes

The Quest offers an outstanding opportunity for entrants to vie for major prizes including an international tour for the National Lions Youth of the Year Champion and national tours for all State finalists.

The National Lions Youth of the Year Winner is awarded an overseas trip to represent Australia at an International Youth Conference + other countries of choice or undertake a specific overseas study tour.

All State Champions will win a trip to the National Convention to compete for the title of National Lions Youth of the Year. A separate prize is also awarded to the Public Speaking Winner who receives a Youth Exchange trip to New Zealand.

All National Finalists including the winner from Papua New Guinea will each receive an organised group tour of Australia during the Christmas holidays ( approx. 35 days ) plus $ 500.00 allowance for any out of pocket expenses they incur on the trip around Australia.

Certificates of recognition are awarded at all levels of judging for the overall heat winner and the Public Speaking Section winner.

Any of the trip prizes must be taken within the next financial year (June to July) immediately following the finals.

Aims

The Lions Youth of the Year Quest is designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership in conjunction with other citizenship qualities in our youth, at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education, and provides students with the incentive to pay greater attention to the general qualities, so vital in developing our youths into first class citizens. The qualities sought, apart from academic attainments are those of leadership, personality, sportsmanship, public speaking and good citizenship.

The students meet in fellowship and have the opportunity of open discussion, exchange of ideas and meet professional people of a community service Club organisation.