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Amanda was a very fit and healthy 18-year-old Environmental
Science student, who attended the Inter-Varsity rowing carnival
at Penrith in October 1997. Five days after returning to Perth,
she suddenly became ill, and in less than 24 hours she had
died from Meningococcal Septicaemia.
At the time, Amanda’s swift and tragic death to a rare
and virtually unknown disease, and the subsequent Coronial
Inquiry two years later, created Australia wide interest.
The Amanda Young Foundation was formed in 1998 with the prime
aim of creating awareness about the Meningococcal disease
amongst the medical profession and the community at large.
In her 18 years of life, Amanda achieved a great deal. She
had a wonderful disposition and outlook on life, and a passionate
ambition to make a difference, particularly in addressing
the salinity problem of our country.
Amanda was a diligent and intelligent student and received
an “A” rating in every subject that she studied
at Penrhos College between 1992 and 1996. Amanda’s worth
was recognised in 1996 when she was awarded the Margaret Way
prize for the most outstanding contribution to the school
community. During that year, she attended the National Youth
Science Forum in Canberra, and visited Russia and London with
a small group of NYSF students.
Amanda travelled widely in her short life, visiting Canada
and the USA with the Penrhos Cross Country Team, also holidaying
in Japan with her exchange student friend Kuniko.
Amanda was extremely active and versatile, competing in a
wide range of sports such as athletics (track and cross country),
swimming, softball, netball, calisthenics and gymnastics.
Amanda learned to ride at an early age and enjoyed Pony Club.
She competed in hacking, jumping, novelty and carriage driving
events at agricultural shows and the Royal Show.
In 1993 Amanda was introduced to the Penrhos College Rowing
Program, and this became her favourite sport, no doubt because
of the enjoyment that she derived from being part of a team.
In 1996 she was elected Captain of Boats. Amanda maintained
her link with Penrhos, by taking on a coaching role in 1997.
In 1997, Amanda joined the University of Western Australia
(UWA) Rowing Club, and had a wonderful season with the team,
culminating in the ill-fated Inter-Varsity trip. Significantly,
Amanda competed in the State Rowing Championships at Canning
Bridge, with her UWA teammates on the 11th of October 1997,
the day before she died.
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