Bianca's simple philsophy - like what you do
Bianca Carbone has a simple philosophy to describe her community involvement - "I like what I do".
The 17-year-old has already notched an impressive list of achievements, including this year being Bunbury Catholic College's head girl and winning Harvey Shire Council's youth award.
Bianca's leadership abilities were recognised at a young age - she was also head girl at St Michael's Catholic Primary School in Brunswick.
Despite her young age, Bianca has plenty of strings to her bow.
She has been involved in plenty of sports, playing tennis, netball and basketball and coaching and umpiring in the latter.
Her musical talents are diverse - she enjoys singing and playing the guitar and piano.
She is also involved with the Catholic church in her hometown of Brunswick, reading at masses and undergoing training to be a Eucharistic minister.
These leadership capabilities and Bianca's community involvement were identified as reasons for her being given the shire youth award at the council's WA Week dinner in June.
"It was really good, I was quite surprised but it was an honour," she said.
"It was nice to see people recognising me for what I have done in the community - not that I do it for any of that."
Among all of this, Bianca is completing Year 12 with a view to studying at UWA or Curtin University next year.
Describing herself as an outgoing and very social person with a keen interest in public speaking - a skill vital to her role as head girl - she has plans to study marketing.
Her family is well-known throughout the South West and operate Carbone Bros earthmoving, with her father Craig also a Harvey shire councillor.
She said her family's profile "doesn't really affect me" though she conceded, jokingly, that when she introduced herself to people, they often responded with, "Oh, like the trucks?".
Bianca described her head girl role as an honour - particularly because she was nominated by her peers - and understands the significance of it.
"I find people look up to you and it's an opportunity to inspire people," she said.
"I won't really get to do this again."
Much of Bianca's work in the community and within the school can be traced back to a speech she heard in her first year of high school that resonated with her.
"When I was in Year 8, a leader in Year 12 made a speech and said, 'You only get out when you put in' - and I really took that to heart," she said.
"I like what I do and I feel like it all pays off."
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