Youth worker attributes award win to her ‘role model’

Cynthia Comeagain won a youth award on Australia Day, but she’s not keeping it.

Instead she’s giving it to her grandfather, Senior Constable Charlie Comeagain.

She reckons he should have it because he’s the reason she decided to pursue community work.

“He was a cop way before I was born,” Ms Comeagain said.

“He was my role model growing up, I always wanted to be like him.

“But he pushes me to be even better.”

Ms Comeagain was in Perth when she won the City of Greater Geraldton youth award for her work with MEEDAC.

Her nomination was a complete surprise and she doesn’t know who put her name forward.

The 18-year-old has been a youth worker and bus supervisor at the indigenous outreach organisation for a year.

She helps mentor and supervise disadvantaged children, helps the intoxicated sober up and helps drive people who live outside of Geraldton to and from appointments.

For Ms Comeagain, it’s both distressing and rewarding work.

“It’s good getting to know a lot of the kids in the community,” she said.

“But I’m not going to lie, we see a lot of sad families.”

To hit a happy work-life balance, Ms Comeagain dabbles in football, hockey and basketball.

This year, she is considering playing for Towns Football Club in the Great Northern Football League’s women’s competition.

She’s also considering following in her grandfather’s footsteps.

“I think I might put in my application for the police cadets,” Ms Comeagain said.

Other Australia Day award recipients from Geraldton included Peter Jones, Kealan Nightingale and Kate McConkey.