Former Peak Hill girl Anabelle van Wyk is Orange City's Young Citizen of the Year for 2025.
The Year 12 Kinross Wolaroi student and musician who now lives in Orange was presented the award at Orange City Council's Australia Day ceremony on January 26.
She's been recognised for her contribution to the arts and passion for encouraging young people in the region to participate in the performing arts.
"She has demonstrated how important it is to her that younger children should be encouraged to participate in cultural opportunities and to help them succeed, regardless of their location or circumstances, and that the arts should be equally accessible to all," Anabelle's award nomination read.
"In Anabelle’s spare time she has been helping a neurodiverse young student learn how to play a musical instrument."
Latest Stories
Anabelle has also been part of her school’s Intergen Wontama program, making monthly visits to the aged-care facility where she and other students would offer musical activities to the residents.
For the past three years, Anabelle has been volunteering at her school’s junior band.
This year she is one of four young artists from the Central West receiving mentorship through the Horizons youth career launchpad, a project of the NSW Regional Arts Network.
Through participating in this program that runs over 18 months and supports 75 young people from across NSW, Anabelle has been advocating for young creative people living in regional areas to participate as much as possible in the performing arts and to take every available opportunity.
"With her own extensive participation in the arts, she is an exemplary role model," her nomination read.
Anabelle specialises in classical and jazz saxophone and vocals, and first began her performing career busking on the streets of Peak Hill.
She regularly entered the Australian National Busking Championships, of which Peak Hill is host to one of the regional finals.
She was also a regular busker during the Parkes Elvis Festival.
In 2020 Anabelle was the Australian National Busking Champion (primary category) and in 2022 at 14 years old she was a winner in the Golden Classical Music Awards, booking her seat in a recital at New York City’s famous Carnegie Hall, considered the most prestigious concert stage in the United States.
