Narooma High School captain Abbey Dawson hopes her hard work pays off, when she debates on the floor of NSW Parliament next month.
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Abbey was selected to represent the Bega electorate in a youth political empowerment program, The Y NSW Youth Parliament.
The 17-year-old has been working on a bill with her committee to hopefully present to NSW Government.
Abbey understood she was the first from the Bega electorate to participate in the program that began in 2002.
Thanks to a $1000 donation from Club Narooma, the Narooma Lions Club was able to sponsor Abbey, helping cover the cost of travel and accommodation during her stay in Sydney.
She leaves for the eight-day camp on the July 3. Students of the 93 NSW electorates will develop policy positions ahead of a day of debate on the floor of NSW Parliament.
Following the event, passed bills will be formally presented to the NSW Government.
Over the past 11 weeks, Abbey has been working with five others in her committee to create a bill.
Abbey wanted to push for more public transport in rural areas.
"I had the idea of increasing rural public transport, then a committee member had the idea of focussing on elderly, to keep them independent for longer," she said.
"Hopefully the stigma around public transport in rural areas will change. The aim in our bill is to give the elderly population more access to transport - connecting rural to metro areas."
I am from the little country town of Narooma - they didn't even know where it was
- Abbey Dawson
Abbey said it was "hard to get the message across" to her committee as members were all based in Sydney.
"It was hard because they haven't lived in a rural area," she said.
However, Abbey was proud of the finished product.
"It's perfect - it has all elements," she said.
She said it was tough juggling school studies with the program work.
"It has been a struggle with school, but I have managed to do it - I haven't dropped back," she said.
Abbey looked forward to her experience at parliament, making new friends and meeting new people.
"I am really nervous, not knowing anyone," she said.
"We had a five-hour zoom meeting the other day and they all seem to know each other.
"I am from the little country town of Narooma - they didn't even know where it was."
Abbey hopes to one day pursue a career in politics: "not as a politician but an advisory role."