THE man who established one of the country’s leading youth organisations has been acknowledged on the cover of the region’s White Pages.
Armidale resident and BackTrack founder Bernie Shakeshaft has been selected to appear on this year’s new-look phonebook, which started distribution on Saturday.
Mr Shakeshaft was selected under the theme Inspiring Others to Achieve, which recognised the unsung heroes who selflessly helped others achieve goals and inspired their local community.
In 2005, Mr Shakeshaft returned to Armidale on a mission to offer young people having a tough time an opportunity to turn their lives around.
He established BackTrack, a program that combines youth support with working the land, helping at-risk youth in his home town learn vocational skills and engage with their local community.
BackTrack offers four main programs to get young people work-ready.
Students can gain qualifications in welding through the Iron Man welder course, while the Paws Up program sees young people learn self-discipline through dog training.
Young people working on the land can get nationally recognised agricultural qualifications through AgLads and a classroom teaching literacy and numeracy.
Over the past five years, more than 300 youths, mostly boys, have completed the program, with 87 per cent achieving full-time employment or pursuing further education.
“It’s fantastic to see young people who once felt alone and isolated, turn their lives around to become valued members of the community,” Mr Shakeshaft said.
“I’m really proud they have chosen a path to a better future.”
This year’s phonebook will be distributed in a new size and page layout and will take around six weeks to reach each household.
It’s the second year in a row an Armidale resident has appeared on the front of the region’s White Pages.
Last year, Sarah McFarlane-Eagle was recognised for her work raising awareness about mental illness, as well as raising more than $20,000 for SANE Australia by trekking thousands of kilometres across four continents.
