Campbelltown's New Youth Ambassador

MACARTHUR politicians watch out — young gun Joshua Cotter is hot on your tails.    The Glen Alpine teenager was announced our 2011 youth ambassador at the Rotary Club of Campbelltown's Youth Excellence Awards on Monday night.

Mr Cotter, the outgoing captain of John Therry Catholic High School, also won the community service award for his volunteer work and the successful Macarthur Schools Youth Leaders Forum he organised this year.

The 17-year-old said he was "proud and excited" and thanked Rotary members, his school and director of schools in the Catholic diocese of Wollongong, Peter Turner.

"Both my parents and my grandparents were there on the night and they were in tears and they're just excited for me," he said.

Mr Cotter hopes to study politics and public relations at the University of Western Sydney and tackle concerns affecting the youth of Campbelltown.

"My passion for youth basically comes from my father," Mr Cotter said. "He's a senior sergeant in the police force and was the youth liaison officer for a number of years at Macquarie Fields.

"The passion he has followed on to me and he's my role model."

He has just started an internship at Wollondilly MP Jai Rowell's office and hopes to pursue a career in politics after university.

"I think I can make a difference by being in politics and getting out there and listening to what youth need and want," he said.

"Jai Rowell has offered me an internship and I'm hoping to learn the ins and outs of politics slowly by working with him."

The Rotary Youth Excellence Awards were held at Wests Leagues Club in Leumeah and they recognised the good work of Campbelltown's young people in a wide range of categories. The Rotary Club of Campbelltown meets at 6pm on Mondays at the Campbelltown Catholic Club.