Maddison O'Hara

Name: Maddison O'Hara

Age: 18

Occupation: Trainee Receptionist at Cootamundra Shire Council

How long have you lived in Young? Almost 13 years

What is the best thing about living here? The small country town vibe and the friendly “everyone knows everyone” atmosphere you get whenever you go anywhere.

If you could change anything about your town what would it be? Although it costs money that is not always available to be spent on such things, more facilities and programs that are targeted at not only the youth of Young but also  young families as well. It is a hot topic at the moment and it has been the biggest complaint of the majority of kids in Young for some time. Yes we have a recent skate park but that will only target one audience of youths, there needs to be different facilities for different tastes and hobbies.

Why did you enter the Cherry Queen contest? I have always wanted to enter the Cherry Queen Competition ever since I went to my first Cherry Festival at age six and saw the queens in the parade. I entered the competition as soon as I could in the hope to have a greater and much more personal involvement in the promotion of Young not only as a town on the map but as a community.

What is your favourite part of the Cherry Festival? The morning of the Cherry Festival where Anderson Park is set up and you can see all the families coming together to look at all the stalls that are set up with local foods and craft items and the children begging to have a go in the cherry competitions. It’s a country town experience at its finest.

Where do you hope to be in 10 years time? Living in a small country town like Young if not Young, with a family and hopefully well on my way by that stage to discovering or doing something I love for a living.