Wyndham’s Britney Penpraze is just 14, yet she’s already doing everything she can to change the world around her.
The Manor Lakes P-12 College student spends much of her spare time volunteering for organisations such as the Salvation Army or Werribee Open Range Zoo.
“I don’t really see it as something that takes up my time; it’s just another hobby,” Britney says.
“I just like helping people and making a difference. I like knowing that I’ve contributed to something and that I’m helping to make a change.”
Britney’s efforts have had her recognised as the ‘young volunteer of the year’ at the Wyndham Community Volunteer Awards.
Along with five other award winners, she was honoured as an important contributor to the community.
What makes her efforts even more amazing is the fact that she has been struggling with an unknown illness for two years.
Britney experiences chronic headaches that sometimes become so strong that she’s unable to attend school.
Since the headaches started, she has missed about 50 per cent of her classes and doctors have been unable to diagnose the nature of her illness.
“I have them all the time, but sometimes they’re worse,” she said. “I’ve just learned to deal with it.”
Her teacher, Tara Hyatt, said Britney was an inspiration to her fellow students.
“With her illness she still manages to excel and that makes her a really good role model in and out of the classroom,” Ms Hyatt said.
