On Wed 20th August 2025, members heard from Caitlin Grieve, who in April this year attended the annual RYLA program. Caitlin was sponsored by Wendouree Breakfast, from a recommendation made by Harry Hood and the Youth Committee after Caitlin spoke to us in February as a Rural Ambassador.

Caitlin spoke to the meeting with sincerity, enthusiasm and an overwhelming sense of positivity and enjoyment from the personal learning and life experiences gained from the RYLA program. While she was most careful not to divulge specific detail of the many and varied individual and group activities undertaken during the program, she still easily captivated us with her descriptions about her emotions, personal growth experiences and overcoming some of the barriers to personal development while joining in with a range of tasks, some of which were well beyond her comfort zone.

She highlighted the importance of the evening briefings with the group and then with her cabin buddies where the focus was on being committed to vulnerability and being open minded. In conclusion, Caitlin believes her RYLA experience was life changing, giving her the vision and the supporting tools of how to be her personal best as she moves forward through life.