Year 12 student, Brooke Mazey, is the recipient of the Zonta Club of Bendigo ‘Young Women in Public Affairs’ award for 2022.

Zonta is serious about encouraging the enthusiasm of young women who are present and future community leaders, service volunteers or in roles that will further the opportunities of other women across the community.

Each year they offer a number of awards to recognise and support young women.

A budding actor, Brooke was around 15 years old when she saw some interviews with actors that captivated her imagination and it dawned on her acting could be her career.

She sees acting as a vitally important way to change society’s attitudes to those who are often overlooked or under-appreciated.

“My dream is to play roles that either highlight strong women or tell the stories of marginalised women,” she says.

Drama and Theatre Studies are two of Brooke’s Year 12 subjects and she is also studying acting through an online program.

The Bendigo Zonta Club is now playing its part in furthering her dream. The award will help Brooke fund her move to Los Angeles next year to begin her acting training full-time.