A 21-year-old Hoppers Crossing resident has been named Young Victorian of the Year.
University student Khurram Jahangir Khan received the accolade earlier this month as part of the Victoria Day Council awards.
Mr Khan is youth committee chairman at the Hoppers Crossing Rotary Club and also tutors newly arrived migrants in the Sudanese- Australian integrated learning program.
He said he was shocked when he learned of his award.
Auspiciously, Mr Khan got his ‘community and public service’ gong on the third anniversary of his arrival in Australia from Pakistan. “I was literally thinking, am I even worthy?”
Mr Khan, in his third year of studying biomedicine at Melbourne University, was also Wyndham’s 2015 Young Achiever of the Year.
“You learn the true subjects of life – the chemistry of a community and the physics of society – when you’re volunteering,” he said.
“Volunteering is a key part of life and it should be taken as a responsibility.
“Volunteering has a huge relationship with leadership.
“Young people should treasure volunteerism. It should be considered a huge part of a sensible human being’s life.
“Young people can achieve wonders. If you motivate young people, it will benefit the future.”
Marie Brittan, Wyndham council’s youth portfolio-holder, said Mr Khan was an excellent example of the value of young people in Wyndham giving back to the community.
“We are extremely proud of his latest achievement, and we’re sure it won’t be the last,” Cr Brittan said.
Charlene Macaulay
