Kerlinda-Lee Gallagher-Young, a student from the Jordan River Learning Federation’s Bridgewater Campus in Tasmania, is the first winner of the Spirit Award.

Created in partnership with North Melbourne, The Huddle and Spirit of Tasmania, the prize is awarded to a Year 9 secondary school student across Tasmania and Victoria, who has strongly demonstrated the values of REAL, BOLD, BELONGING, NEVER BEATEN and SPIRIT, through personal achievements and a contribution to the broader school and community.

Gallagher-Young demonstrated these values through a compelling essay about the importance of dance and inclusion.

“There are people moving in to our community from different areas of the world and I would love to invite them to share their own dances and also be part of our dances and greater community,” she wrote.

In attendance at the presentation ceremony was Spirit of Tasmania CEO Bernard Dwyer, North player Declan Watson, School Principal Sandy Menadue, and members of Gallagher-Young’s class and friends and family.

“It is great to be able to partner with the Jordan School of Learning and pilot this community award,” Dwyer told North Media.

“The award is really about inspiring kids to be involved in their community and giving the community the opportunity to see what fantastic kids we’ve got in this state.

“The response and the effort of the students in this was phenomenal so now we want to take it to thousands of students around Tasmania.”

Gallagher-Young will receive five-hundred dollars to assist in making an impact on her school and community as well as a return trip with three family members on the Spirit of Tasmania, and tickets to a North home game at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.