Cobram Secondary College principal Kimberley Tempest with student Abbie Milne, winner of the Young Star Achiever of the Year award.
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Whether in the classroom, on the water, or in the community, Cobram Secondary College student Abbie Milne is making the most of every opportunity at just 15 years old.
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Abbie was namedYoung Star Achiever of the Year at the Moira Shire Achiever Awards last month, recognition she said came as a surprise.
“I was pretty shocked,” she said.
“I was overwhelmingly excited and proud of myself.”
She said being involved in Cobram’s close-knit community had played an important role in her experiences.
“It’s a very close, comfortable circle of people,” she said.
Abbie was previously named Junior Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day awards and is an active member of the Cobram Barooga Paddling Club.
She won three medals at her first Victorian schools competition near Melbourne last year, describing the club as a “close-knit, family-like group”.
Her interests extend beyond sport, with Abbie also selected from more than 500 applicants nationwide as one of just 25 students in the prestigious CSIRO Young Future Shapers program, which she attended in Adelaide last year.
Abbie was selected for the prestigious CSIRO Young Future Shapers STEM program in 2025.
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“It’s a program that helps young people like me to see how STEM is a whole variety of things, instead of just science, technology, engineering and maths,” she said.
At school, Abbie is involved in the band, playing clarinet, which she has studied since Year 7.
She also enjoys volunteering, including helping at the Cobram Agricultural Show, where she serves food and sells tickets.
She said she was looking forward to returning to volunteering this year after missing out last year, and was also hoping to take on other opportunities.
Outside of her commitments, Abbie said she enjoyed “cooking, playing music and hanging out with my friends”.
Earlier this year, Abbie applied for the Australian Federal Police work experience program in Canberra, but unfortunately was not selected.
“I was in the last round though,” she said.
Despite missing out, Abbie said she received a personalised response from the AFP.
“They said they wouldn’t be sending personalised letters back if you didn’t get in, but I got one because they were so impressed with my work ethic,” she said.
Abbie said they told her they didn’t have enough spots, as it was only 16 students across Australia, but they encouraged her to apply again in October.
Looking ahead, Abbie hopes to pursue a career in forensic science.
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