Excellent. That is precisely the message that young Aboriginal people like Shania and Summer should be conveying - "we have to help ourselves" (too) - and "we are making an effort - are you?". Well done Shania and Summer. Well done GenerationOne. Chris

I really liked Shania and Summer's address too. I work with kids from the Cape York communities, and it is great to see recognition of these communities. Well done, girls.

So inspiring to hear these young motivated women talking about their bright futures, I m nearly 50 yrs old and I ve just gained a Diploma, your never to young or to old to follow your dreams....good luck Ladies!

great work....excellent video

Brilliant video! Inspiring, informative, compelling viewing. Congratulations to Shania & Summer

Excellent work, girls, you have delivered a powerful message. Everyone in Australia should listen to voices like these.

That's a fantastic choice for winners. Thanks Shania and Summer

WOW . . Those girls should be really pround of themselves. It's so sad to see young Aboriginal kids missing out on education advances because most of them live in such remote areas. It's so unfair, the Australian Government needs to wake up and help the children of the future. Our people are in trouble. Being more and more consumed by substance abuse, alcohol, gambling and violence. It's so endearing to see young people acknowledging the fact if they want to change, the first step is up to them. But how can they? If no one is on the other side allowing them to do so? WAKE UP all you politicians, it's time to start taking care of the oldest culture of this great country and ensure that our children will always be safe.

Great work you two and what perfect role models.

Beautiful girls, well done!

Inspiring. If this doesn't help bridge the gap then nothing will. Were that I were more than a pensioner I would gladly give to help the cause. We need to see more young people talk about their dreams and aspirations.

These are very impressive and forward-thinking children. I think you chose well!

Get into girls ....please retain your language,bush skills and your culture . they are a must keep item and should never be lost ..... It's what makes you the first Australians.

Absolutely wonderful presentation from two truly beautiful young women. Congratulations

How can anyone watch that and not be moved? I was. Congratulations and here's to lots of feedback to both girls and their community!

Well done girls!! It seems you had no idea how to do this but just asked the right people to help you and look what you have achieved - so inspiring, well done.

Fantastic video girls. Very well spoken, you really got your messages across easily and interesting use of the editing program. Inspiring! :) Keep up the good work. I'll tell my friends too & look up Doomadgee on the map so I know where it is too!

Congratulations! Good on you girls, it's fantastic to see you's speak up for you community and young people in general. Keep up the great work, it's up to you young ones to keep positive changes alive.

I think it's good to have our young people have their say and to let the whole world know that Black Australians can do make their way out of their schoolings and to get a better jobs.

Congratulations girls, the best way closing any gap is from both sides at the same time, you are certanly working on your end and with the opportunity provided by Gen One you will get there.

Well done girls, you are leaders in your community, I look forward to hearing more from you.

Thanks Shania and Summer, I now know your names and I will not forget.

I acknowledge these two young women, Shania and Summer, and the powerful message they are sending to all of us. May they continue to be the leaders they very obviously are meant to be. Mary O'Meara

What a beautiful and inspiring message from these young girls and I am sure they will succeed in bringing their wishes to fruition. We can all learn from them and follow in their footsteps to better educate ourselves and perhaps gain some understanding of the situations of others. Well done girls I wish you both every success in whatever path you choose.

Shania and Summer are fantastic. They are inspiring young woman who are an image of a better future. Congratulations!

Well done girls. Your families and your community can all be proud of you.

Very good - why is it that the children from the "outback" understand but those who live in cities and large towns do not seem to understand or wish to implement these changes?? These changes can only succeed if all the children are involved

I was very humbelled to hear those two young ladys speak, yes you are our furture for all good on you no you dont know me but im proud of you get the boys to stand up to help as well. Regards kev my nick name is uncle

Fantastic video entry!! Congratulations to Shania and Summer for having the courage to speak out and challenge us all to 'make a difference'!! I look forward to the girls developing their video skills so we can all learn more about their lives at Doomadgee and in their country. Inspiring!

Fantastic - we white Australians want nothing better than a confident and well educated indigenous population. It is possible and Summer and Shania's message was so full of hope. Go for it Girls - we are behind you - but as you said, you must help yoyurselves!

A couple of well-spoken, articulate girls. I am proud they are part of our future and that of the aborigine nation. Education is the key. And yes, I've been through Doomagee. Go for it and go hard. John F

Great video! Seem like two very smart girls.

Great video! Seem like two very smart girls.

Well done girls , a great audio . Keep up the good work and you will put Doomadgee on the map forever .

Congratulation and well done on your efforts your are both young leaders who obviously are passionate about making a difference in your community, I hope your enthusiasm is contagious amongst your peers and follow in your footsteps with your passion towards education Congratulation on the positive choices you have both made in making a difference in your own lives and the encouragement you offer others Good luck and Merry Christmas to you and your families Cheers Tim

Well done Shania and Summer. It's a great moving video and I wish you both every success in the future. Keep up your efforts as it will be worth it in the years ahead. Very proud to be with you on your journey.Good luck and work hard to make every post a winner.

Wow!! just what the country needs. Well done girls and keep up the good work

What an inspiring video - well chosen! Stay strong girls and achieve your goals.

What a wonderful, positive message from Shania and Summer. It's great to see two young girls with such a strong sense of direction and purpose. This message will surely give hope to many of their own people, so they too can look to a brighter future. Well done.

What a wonderful, positive message from Shania and Summer. It's great to see two young girls with such a strong sense of direction and purpose. This message will surely give hope to many of their own people, so they too can look to a brighter future. Well done.

Well done girls and what an awesome attitude. Lets hope they inspire more young Aboriginal and even non Aboriginal kids to help themselves. You get from life what you put in.

Yes I am making the effort. My eyes are ears are open! Tell us what we need to do to support you, Many Australians care - look at all the posts you two have got!? Well Done - You just put Doomadgee on the map, onwards and upwards girls - you can achieve anything you put your minds to, look at what you have already done :) Be proud!

Inspiring message one that sets a challenge to the rest of Australia to act.

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK THIS WILL HAPPEN

Sadly one of the reasons that only 8 people from Doomadgee have completed Yr 12 schooling in the last 10 years would be because their local school would not teach past Y10. This is an assumption as most outback schools do not teach to Y12 and students have to be separated from their families and go to boarding schools if they wish to complete school. This is a huge disadvantage for those students. Lovely clip, I think it is wonderful!

Wow, this is brilliant - It needs to be shown on TV too. I hope these girls go places in the future , they are terrific.

Love you girls confidence in reaching out to the world to share your dreams for the future... Be strong and stay centred you have a great wealth of wisdom from your past generations to share with a new world in the future... thankyou

Well done Shania & Summer ( I have a 1 yr. old Great Granddaughter called Summer). You girls have certainly started off well, great job.Draw for those positive people around you & go for it

Congratulations, girls. I am non-indigenous, but have some knowledge of the impediments that have held indigenous people back in the past. You girls will continue to be an inspiration to your peers and others who follow.

You are my inspiration Shania & Summer. Well done.

Shania and Summer. you are definitely the voice of the future. Here's to new beginnings and always remember if you believe you will always succeed.

Congratulations girls I can see you both going far in life Good luck and all the best

good one girls....an inspiration to everyone....

well done aim high right to the sky you can be anything you want. great role modelling for Indigenous kids.

As a fellow young Australian viewing your clip, I feel inspired and I gain hope. To help close the gap Education is vital, on both sides. I studied Kindergarten to year 12 in Canberran schools where the content of what I was being taught in core subjects was no choice of my own. I can only remember once, in my 13 years of education, where I was taught about the Indigenous culture of my country. It was in primary school, and it was in an art class, learning about dot paintings. As valued as Indigenous Art is to me (I am a designer), where were my primary and high school and college classes that covered even the basic history, culture and future of our Indigenous Australians? I have since through my own interest, educated myself on what I feel were huge, essential missing links in my knowledge, so that I can at best, be able to consider myself an understanding Australian. This is why I am depressed but not surprised when the common argument from a young ‘new’ Australian when faced with the issue of closing the gap is a negative one. I almost pass out with rage but know that the best thing for me to do is educate, to try to explain that to close the gap, cycles have to be broken, and to break these cycles it takes enormous strength and courage, from extraordinary young people, for them to be able to envisage change and then to strive for it. Maybe that might help them to be more understanding. It is such a struggle though, when young Australians don’t even have a basic education of Indigenous Australia. Through education regarding the history and future, we need to encourage the respect our Indigenous culture deserves. We need all young Australians to be able to watch Shania's and Summer's clip and see them for the extraordinary people that they are, to feel and recognise their effort, inspiration and strength. For as long as young 'new' Australians view that clip with the ignorance that stems from poor education and their parents ignorant influence, it is only making the task for girls like Summer and Shania so much harder.

This 78 yerar old pensioner thinks you are great girls. Keeping in touch through email news. Any Christians out there that want to chat?

wow deadly 13 and inspiring*you can only be great mentors voices for other young Aboriginal people**so proud of some of my mob**

this is awesome work you two have put together, very inspiring and an eye opener. congrats

well done girls...demonstrating what your capable of...keep it up!

It's heartening to see these two lovely, intelligent, young ladies so focused on their aim and ambition. Congratulations.

Awsome girls dont let anything hold you back and you will go far

Shania and Summer-you're two beautiful girls who are making a difference already. i cant wait to see your accomplishments by the time you become women.XOXO

That's amazing - what mature young women - if all that generation could think like that what a great future Australia would have

So good to hear these young people determined to take hold of the responsibility for their future - with our help of course.

What a credit these two beautiful girls are to their teachers and families. They spoke with such sincerity and conviction, I'm sure that, with support they will achieve their dreams. I certainly hope to learn more about them and where and how they live. Excellent speech.

Wow! Fantastic girls!

I am employed out of Closing The Gap funding and I am employed at Kirwan High School ( as a teacher aide) in Townsville,We have over 2000 students and nearly 500 of these students identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or both . Attendance at school is a big issue in our school too ...I am not Indigenous but my husband is , and I have 3 beautiful children who are proud of their heritage ...and they have done and are doing well at school ...because of their attendance ....this video by these two strong young girls sums up an issue that affects the educational outcomes of many of our Indigenous kids throughout many different types of communities all over Australia ...it affects kids in remote communities , in regional areas , and in cities ..I am going to forward this video onto some of the teachers I work with ...colleen...

Shania and Summer you make me have hope for the future of Australia - you talk so much good sense so eloquently at such a young age. Good luck in all you do in your lives.

Wonderful, wonderful and inspiring. Fantastic ambassadors. Great winning choice.

Agree with Sandy, but also great role models for non-indigenous kids, too. Well done, girls. On the same day as Rebecca Richards achievement is announced, these three young women are certainly inspiring me.

too deadly!! well done girls - you are our future and I am proud of that fact....

Truly Inspirational and heartfelt. The world is definately a better place with girls like you sharing the message that with a little hard work and dreams to reach your goals, anything can be achieved. Your families must be very proud.

What an inspiring challenge to put out there for our communities to have a go and be a part of change for our future generations. You have set the standards; you are true leaders of the future, and you are Excellent examples for your pears...well done girls and congratulations!!!

Great stuff girls. Congratulations, and congratulations to all who entered. The path may be long, but with enthusiastic young people working hard for the future, our peoples can come together quickly and amicably. I look forward to a great future, where all are truly equal in the great south land. Here is to a wonderful journey, together.

Thank you for your courage and presentation for highlighting what us black people already know. That we are here and we want to be heard.

Shania and Summer represent the First Australians' brave new world! Congratulations!

I am an oldie (nearly 64). I am filled with admiration for the way in which Maddy, Shania and Summer display so much confidence well beyond their age. The future of Australia will be in safe hands with young people like them.

well done girls!! Here in Moora WA we have had 3 aboriginal boys graduated year 12 the first for Moora in many years. lets keep on closing the gap!!

Shania and Summer - Your inspirational message will show many children the way to a better future. Education is the key with the right people at the right tine setting all our children up for "success"!

congratulations girls, you are wonderful advocates for indigenous kids and teenagers all over this beautiful land of ours and you are making a difference. Keep up the good work!

Beautiful, inspiring, young girls with a message for all Australians. Congratulations.

Deadly job girls! this shows Australia and the whole world that we are serious about 'Our children - Our future' and it will be great to see and hear a lot more from you to really put Doomadgee on the map, Well done - You really deserve to win the competition.

Well Done & Congratulations! Summer & Shania. I am not from an Indigenous background but I share your hopes and wishes for equality in Education and ALL aspects of being an Australian, watching you two wonderful girls made me feel so proud, great work.

I had no idea where Doomadgee is but you have put it on the map for me. Cool - if this is what you girls are thinking about at 13 years of age, you have a big future!

Two beautiful girls speaking beautifully to Australia! A credit, both to their teachers and their community. Good luck in your futures girls,and be proud that you have put your community in Doomadgee on the map

Well done girls lovedthe message you have sent. ironically I am a white Australian convict decended, Injured in an accident can no longer work physically. My direction has changed to learn through University study the Aboriginal cultures of this proud land. Both you girls should take pride in who you are, learn all you can and keep your culture secure. Well dont to both of you. "OH" my wife and I have been to doomadgee.

Very moving, they are both lovely girls. They must have great dedicated teachers. They deserve to do well and achieve their goals in life. Let's all wish them every success.

Well done, Shania and Summer, and GenerationOne. Excellent, thought-provoking presentation, and with YouTube posting, hopefully the world picks up on the cause. More power to you!

Deadly! You are both inspirational young women who show insightfulness and maturity beyond your years. Shame job for most 13 year old white fellas I know. May the "force" remain with you.

Congratulations Shania and Summer. You are inspirational!

Congratulations Shania and Summer you deserve your win.Having worked in the education sector I see the very real need for equality and with intelligent young ladies like you two it will happen. Good luck for your futures, which I am certain will be very bright.

Congratulations Shania and Summer you deserve your win.Having worked in the education sector I see the very real need for equality and with intelligent young ladies like you two it will happen. Good luck for your futures, which I am certain will be very bright.

i think its wonderful that these kids are rekonized and taken noticed of for being indiganes australian people who were hear before captan cook. regards carl emberson.

A second thought (because I've already posted my first): my 6-year-old grand-daughter has a gold medal for gymnastics not because she's particularly talented (how could I say that? - she's Olympic material) but because all the children in the class got the same medal for just turning up. How is this relevant? I don't want to detract from the judges' decision but without being patronising we must also recognise the tremendous pool of talent that is the rest of the contestants. They also need to be encouraged to keep up their efforts. They're all now on the national stage and we need to leverage this. Think of the successful runners-up in far less important talent quests. It's not only the winners who inspire: all those who gave it a go deserve our support. This view offered in gratitude for the inspiration so many of our young people give me.

"The journey of a thousand miles starts beneath your feet." Congratulations Shania and Summer. Together, you've taken a giant step forwards.

please show this video on national tv and also bring back NITV.

Wow! I hope Australians really get behind this project so we can really close the gap!

It is your future,and i hope i live to see the future you want to see, so please do not give up. Many hands make light work. Thankyou.

Shania and Summer, that was wonderful; I am a primary school teacher in the metro area of Perth. We have a large percentage of Indigenous families in our school. I am a strong advocate of Aboriginal Perspectives in my classroom; I want my Indig kids to feel proud of their culture and have high expectations for them. It is fantastic to hear that you have such high expectations for yourselves. I wish to be more pro-active next year in working with our school AIEO to run some whole school programs for our Indigenous students; I will definitely be sharing your video with them next year. Congratulations; you made me all teary...good luck in every thing you do :-)

Excellent video. Leading by example is the best way to inspire and encourage others to start the same journey. Have a dream, set the goal, move forward one step at a time.

Wow! WTG - Way to go Girls! A passionate and inspirational message from that beautiful Gulf Country. Congratulations to you both and I'll bet you are as articulate in your Language and Culture as you are in Australian English. Stay strong and keep believing in yourselves as there are heaps of people, starting with your Mob and Family who believe in you! :) Wishing you and your families in Doomadgee a great Christmas and some fun holiday adventures this Wet.

Good job kids, I think school needs to be relevant to kids futures. Kids wont, go to school if they cant see a future. Possibly ADF trade schools are an option! As is being done in Afganistan. Just a thought. Again well done kids.

Well done young ladies. You certainly are inspirational. Keep On Keeping On..Follow your Dreams.

What an inspiring video GO GIRLS!!! I would suggest that everyone may like to send this link to Julia Gillard and DEMAND that we end the disparity. Suggest to her that it would be good politics! Kevin

Congratulations little sisters on your deadly win. When people hear of Doomadgee they'll think of you. What great ambassadors for your town!!

Education systems? across Australia need to truly educate the staff. Children and families are mostly willing and certainly able but quickly become despondent in the face of ignorance and arrogance of a failing system. Bullying and assumed legitimacy is not the answer. Schools need to apologize. We need a whole new mindset. Patrick Dodson makes sense.

Congrads Shania and Summer. I know that all your dreams and hopes for your futures will come true. This world is here for you to embrace.Look to your Elders for guidance and listen to your hearts for motivation. I was fortunate enough to meet some of your Mob at the Dreaming festival this year and I hope that we can meet next year. You make your people proud! Well done!

Well done! That's awesome and very inspirational. Stand strong girls.

Well done girls. You should be an inspiration for all young Aboriginal students. I know someday you will take your place in the world as someone to look up to and admire. My congratulations to you and those who will follow you.

Very moving and inspirational, girls. Congratulations to you, your teachers and school for producing such a thought-provoking and memorable video. Your message is important and deserves to be heard by as many people as possible, and you've succeeded in putting Doomadgee - and yourselves - on the map.

Congratulatons Shania and Summer, you certainly have put Doomadgee on the map. That was such an inspiring video and you are two very articulate young ladies who deserve your accolades. How proud your Community, your School and your Teachers must be. Well done and all the best for your future.

Think you and your messages are fantastic. Very inspiring.

Having travelled a lot to remote parts of Australia and visited some Aboriginal communities I am truly impressed with the girls inspiring and thoughtful video. All power to both of them and their community.

Great stuff - my kids asked for the video camera after watching you two beautiful girls and came back with a project that surprised me with its maturity! All the best, always.

Well done girls... I was so excited to see you as the winners! I know its hard up here for you young people and to see you taking a stand for your peers and your community make me proud as i'm sure it does your family and friends! Stand tall and don't let anyone discourage you from achieving your goals. I see two future leaders that are going to make a difference in the lives of all Aboriginal people.

Deadly job Ladies...what a future you two have. Good luck with all you choose to do :)

Shania and Summer I found your video very inspiring. When I hear young people speaking frankly like this and with such commitment I feel we are getting closer and closer to closing the gap. Well done!

My heart is with you . Well done . With a camcorder and the internet , Doomadgee can be a part of LEADING the world , towards good , for all . Thank you .

what beautiful girls! will their entry be used as an ad on tv? i haven't seen any of the 'hands across australia' ads on tv or radio as yet .... which is a shame

You have taken big and wonderful steps! We've been waiting for you and so have many others on the way. A long journey of breakthrough, again and again. Keep the stories alive- past, present and future- the lifeblood of culture, your culture and every human culture, and of any dreaming that is real, powerful, nurturing, and enables the skills development as well, day in and day out. We celebrate you and Doomadgee. Hurrah to both of you- move on with grace and strength! Maria Maguire

well done girls very best wishes for the future

Congratulations Shania and Summer - what beautiful girls and I loved your entry back when you first submitted it. It speaks to the heart of all Australians. Yes, you have definitely put Doomadgee on the map. I just found it on Google Maps and it looks like an amazing part of Australia. Would love to learn more too.

Allways was, Allways will be, Aboriginal land. Long live the Kookaburra.

What two gorgeous girls and what an insightfull message out of the mouths of the young. You guys melt my heart well done!! Exceeeelent!

You two girls are inspiring!