Most inspiring young people: see who made us proud in 2025
Updated 6 days ago by Saree Salter
2025 was another huge year for young people in the region. Here's The Examiner's most inspiring stories from them.
Rhianna Crowden
When year 6 student Rhianna Crowden's beloved prep teacher was diagnosed with cancer, she decided to do something.
Rhianna organised a 15-kilometre run to raise funds for the Cancer Council in George Town and tripled her goal of $1000 by raising more than $3000.
Rhianna said she was proud of her efforts and enjoyed the day alongside the 65 participants, including the teacher who inspired it all, Georgie Quinn.
"It was pretty awesome, but I felt nervous about public speaking. I thanked everyone involved," Rhianna said.
Hudson Ischenko-Smith
Hudson was once a shy, nervous and mostly mute little boy. Now, he's a dancing superstar.
Six-year-old Hudson Ischenko-Smith has autism, global developmental delay and a speech disorder, and before he joined Classique Dancentre in February last year, his mother Maggie Smith never thought he'd grow into the boy he is now.
Ms Smith said his teacher, Linda Peters, who has been teaching dance for 40 years at the studio, was the reason she had a "totally different child".
"Dancing with Linda has meant he can now work with a range of different people, he can dress himself, he can be in a crowd, handle noise and do better at school," Ms Smith said.
Dustin Graham
Dustin Graham is only in grade 6 , but he's brave beyond his years. He just happens to have long blonde hair too, well, at least he used to.
To raise vital funds for the Cancer Council, the 12-year-old from St Thomas More's Catholic School decided to wave goodbye to his lush locks in July.
With a goal of raising $1000, Dustin was over the moon when he realised he'd more than tripled his target.
Dustin's peers watched on as his hair fell to the floor during a lunch hour which attracted the entire school's attention.
His godmother was on the clippers.
"It felt pretty sad but I knew it was for a good cause, so that made me happy at the same time," Dustin said.
Phoebe Roberts
Phoebe Roberts is one of an increasing wave of female drivers entering motorsport, an industry that has historically been dominated by males.
Phoebe said the idea of showing the boys how it's done provides extra motivation for her to do well.
Phoebe said she was looking forward to the thrill of hitting the speedway and "getting muddy" at the Formula 500 junior series held in October.
"The speed [is fun] and they just look so cool on the track," she said.
"I like driving things with wings, it's a cool atmosphere, and seeing other people have a go in it just makes me want to go."
Doug Sheppard
Sixteen-year-old Doug Sheppard has been playing tennis at an elite level since he was 10.
Between Launceston and the Gold Coast, where he trains at the KDV Tennis Academy, Doug spends four hours a day playing tennis, an hour in the gym, and still manages to fit his schooling in.
The former Launceston Grammar student started Australian Christian College Launceston's Distance Education Program at the start of the year to ensure he could manage his studies.
Izzy Phillips
Since the start of the year, 11-year-old Izzy Phillips and Gilbert the facility dog have spent more days together than apart.
Izzy is receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the Launceston General Hospital and said Gilbert doesn't only offer cuddles, but reassurance and strength on some of her most daunting days.
"He lies on my stomach when I'm really upset or overwhelmed; he just calms me down," Izzy said.
"He makes me feel less stressed; he makes it easier to go into appointments."
Cacia Charles
Young artist Cacia Charles from Launceston won her category and the people's choice award at the 2025 Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize.
With the bush as this year's theme, entries reflected young people's connection and concerns about the natural environment that surrounded them.
"I had just watched the David Attenborough documentary about Tasmania and it was all about the fagus and the turning of the fagus." she said.
"I had to paint it, because I loved all the oranges and the yellows."
Kaytlyn Johnson
Singing before she could talk, performing in front of her family in the living room, and writing her own songs by 13, it was clear what Kaytlyn Johnson wanted to do.
But growing up in regional Tasmania made her dreams of becoming a musician a lot harder to achieve than most.
With music theory not taught at her local high school, the young First Nations woman was making things happen for herself as young as 13.
"I went to Wynyard High School and taught myself to play guitar, sing and write songs," she said.
"I didn't have access to singing lessons, but I learned to overcome it."
After saving enough money, Ms Johnson moved to Melbourne at 18 and completed a degree in music and climate science.
Now the young musician is supporting names like Thelma Plum and Lucky Oceans.
Georgina McShane
Long, curly hair was one of 10-year-old Georgina McShane's most recognisable features, but that changed after a moment of inspiration.
Georgina, "Georgie", is from a farm at Cranbrook, in the Glamorgan-Spring Bay region, and part of the Midlands Pony Club.
She was inspired by a member of the club who donated their hair to a family member who had difficulty finding a wig after cancer treatment, so she decided she would cut her hair to donate to Wigs4Kids.
"She thought it was such a generous thing to do (cutting hair in support of cancer), that she would like to do it as well," Georgie's mum Steph Brouder said.