Anna is one of our 2019 Leadership Competition winners. You can check out her winning entry here and her bio below.
How old are you, what grade are you in and what community/town do you live in?
I am sixteen years old and I am in year 10. I live in Inverloch, Victoria.
Why did you enter Country to Canberra’s Leadership Competition?
Upon seeing the competition announced at school assembly, I was eager to learn more about the program, and voice my opinions on gender equity. The thought of meeting and learning from activists, politicians and people who are simply like-minded was something that immediately inspired and excited me.
What do you hope to get out of the Power Trip to Canberra?
I hope to make new friends, and meet people who are just as passionate as I am about encouraging young women to reach their fullest potential, and be treated with respect and equity. I hope to get out of my comfort zone, become empowered and learn about empowering others.
Who is your role model and why?
Someone who particularly inspires me is my English teacher. She is a humanitarian, feminist and lawyer who always makes the content we study feel relevant to our world and issues. First and foremost, I admire the way she demands respect, and is unashamed of her strength.
What is your favourite thing about living in rural Australia?
There are so many natural places, where I feel connected to nature. We are lucky enough to have beaches, paddocks and bush, away from the people and pollution of the cities. I love being able to see the horizon, and there are so many places I can take my horse out riding!
What is your favourite quote?
It is hard to narrow it down to one, but Chimamanda Nigozi Adichie’s quote from her TED talk, “We Should All Be Feminists” is one that never fails to inspire me.
“Gender as it functions today is a grave injustice. I am angry. We should all be angry. Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change. But I am also hopeful, because I believe deeply in the ability of human beings to remake themselves for the better.”
In an attempt to show that not all feminists are angry, we forget that being angry is warranted.
What is your main goal/ambition right now?
I hope to move into the field of horse welfare through equine physiotherapy or something closely related. I also hope to improve the wellbeing of Australia’s wild brumbies, through preservation, rescue and rehabilitation.
Gender equality, and empowering women while not downgrading men is something very important to me, so not only do I hope to progress in the advocacy of these issues, but not allow my value and power be underestimated because of my gender, by myself or anyone else.
Tell us a couple of things you do to relax/have fun?
Anything to do with horses, whether it is riding, competing or just being around them. During the holidays, I work with my riding instructor who is a horse trainer; watching, learning and riding her horses. I also enjoy designing haute couture-style clothing- I love the way it is more than just clothing, they are pieces of art.
Anna’s Power Trip is kindly being sponsored by AgriFutures Australia!
