First coming to public attention last year lobbying for a six-kilometre stretch of Prospect Creek to have river status and pushing for a name upgrade to Lennox River, Lachlan garnered the support of local MPs and approached the Geographical Names Board with his idea.
“The Board knocked it back on a technicality and when I saw the MPs at the Australia Day ceremony last week, they were still hugely supportive and told me not to give up,” he said.
“So I am working out a different approach.”
Lachlan said his nomination for Young Citizen of the Year was extra special as it came from his grandfather, the Air League’s Officer Commanding Squadron Raymond Bell.
“He said it was for the work I did when our group was unable to meet face to face last year because of Covid,” Lachlan said.
“I moved the meetings online as a type of e-squadron and invited industry professionals to speak to us every week.
“We had everyone from managers to mechanics, instructors and even commercial pilots telling us about their air industry experience; they kept us engaged, inspired and looking forward to the future.”
The university student who is studying for a Bachelor of Planning, also volunteers at the squadron in Padstow and Moorebank and helps as a ground staffer at Camden flying school.
