Young volunteer first responder recognised

Lewis Tran may be a 23-year-old medical student, but the Young Citizen of the Year began his unofficial medical training at St John Ambulance as a teenage volunteer.

As part of the Australia Day awards, Lewis was named 2020 Canterbury-Bankstown Young Citizen of the Year.

As a volunteer first responder, Lewis assists at major events across Sydney to administer first aid, and teaches new and upcoming cadets to give first aid.

“I can’t imagine my life without St John, it’s been a big part of my life and the fact that I am studying a related field – St John had a big part in that,” he said.

“I didn’t think my community service was recognisable, but it’s an honour to be nominated.”

Having volunteered at the Bankstown City Cadet Division since age 16, Lewis is now Second-in-Charge Officer and says he is proud to call Bankstown home.

“I was born in Bankstown Hospital and I’ve lived here my whole life, raised here and went to primary school here and I feel like that’s been really formative,” he said.

“I am preparing to be a doctor and people ask me if I want to move out of the area, but I want to stay in Bankstown.

“I have a lot of pride concerning Bankstown, the area has really urbanised and modernised in the last fifteen years, and it’s so multicultural.”

“If I could say something to young people in Bankstown I would say, if there are opportunities out there take them, just go out and try things – I got started because I said yes to things.”

Mayor Khal Asfour said it was a pleasure to acknowledge members of the community for their exemplary community service.

“Congratulations to Lewis for being named 2020 Young Citizen of the Year and we thank him for his contribution to helping others in the community,” Mayor Asfour said.