HE HAS overcome many challenges and grown into a caring, resilient young man with a lot of empathy for the community - the award citation for Wedderburn’s Tyson Blair captures a journey that has found his  bright side of life.
Tyson has spent the last decade in Wedderburn with foster mum Melinda Springthorpe.
He’s into sport as many country towns teenagers would be. “Sport is fun and you make friends from other towns,” said the Redbacks’ minkey hockey coach of last season. 
Tyson also puts on the football boots and won school and regional honours in swimming and athletics.
“My routine starts with physical activity at the gym in the mornings ... it gets you up and alive for the day,” he said.
A sense of belonging and contributing to the community has seen Tyson recognised with the Loddon Shire award.
Tyson’s community work made an impact during COVID, aware that some people may not have had enough money to buy masks, he completed a sewing lesson, and then made 60 masks, which he hand-delivered to elderly people.
He has become a swimming pool lifeguard and joined the town’s fire brigade. “Being involved in the community is helping me learn leadership skills and being able to look after other people. We have to keep the pools open.”
Last year he was a volunteer buddy at the Southern Cross Kids Camp in Shepparton. Tyson said he had attended the same camp for foster children aged up to 12.
“As I have found, and was able to share last September, life is not bad,” Tyson said.
The Wedderburn College student starts Year 11 study next week. He has chosen mathematics, units 3-4 legal studies, sociology and units 3-4 physical education as subjects for the year.
Tyson said he hoped to pursue a career in the police force after completing school.
Melinda says: “Tyson has come a long way. He’s brilliant.”
The award surprised Tyson who said: “I am honoured the community sees what people do volunteering to help others ... our community is very inclusive.”