Combatting loneliness through community leadership

By DANIEL CLARKE

21/07/26

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Despite living in a small and close-knit island community, 17-year-old Joshua Gaton grew up feeling like he didn’t fit in.  

 

“I didn't play footy when I was young and there was just that sort of disconnection with a lot of people my age,” Joshua said.

 

“I decided I didn't want other people to feel that way. I just wanted to help people feel better about themselves.”

 

That opportunity to make a difference presented itself after Junction’s Community Development Officer Maree Baldwin visited Parndana Campus last year to talk with students about combatting island loneliness. 

 

“Maree needed a group who could work through that problem for the community so my friends and I decided to take it on,” he said. 

 

“I think some people really just get lost in the mix when there are so many people that play sports and if you don't do that, you don't really feel like you stand out.

 

“But there are lots of people who don't play sport who have so many good things about them, and that often goes unnoticed. I want more for them.”

 

Supported through the Our Town initiative, Joshua and a group of his classmates (in Year 10 at the time) started a volunteer enterprise called the Stronger Together team to combat isolation and lead social connection campaigns on the island, including activities during Loneliness Awareness Week. 

 

With the “dream of bringing people together”, team members have hosted local community events, distributed connection surveys at the Junction Community Centre, and sparked town-wide conversations about mental wellbeing.

 

“Our goal by the end of the year is to host a big community event and get a bunch of people together and have some fun,” Joshua said. “It’s something more to give to the community because there aren’t too many events here. Having that physical connection with other people is really important. 

 

“We've also been working on our branding and we've made hoodies and t-shirts and handed out a bunch of bracelets with our names on them.”

 

It was this positive community work - along with his participation on the Youth Environmental Council in which he is creating a digital project about birds and encouraging young people to get out and experience nature - that made Joshua a stand-out candidate for KI Council’s 2026 Young Achiever of the Year. 

 

He was shocked to receive the congratulatory call from KI Mayor Michael Pengilly last week. 

 

“It was so random. I was sitting in bed and I’d just got back from a camping trip with my friend so I was pretty tired. It was a real surprise and it definitely woke me up! 

 

“It's nice to have the work that I've put in for the past few years acknowledged. I guess I was probably chosen because I like to take up whatever they throw at us with community projects and leadership opportunities. I'll usually put my hand up and do it.”

 

A statement from KI Council said Joshua “impressed elected members with his resilience, leadership and community concern in recognising loneliness and social disconnection across Kangaroo Island”. 

 

“Whether volunteering his time, as a leader in the Stronger Together initiative, or leading by example among his peers, Joshua’s commitment to making a difference was clear.”

 

Mayor Pengilly noted "Joshua demonstrates exceptional leadership, unwavering resilience, and a deep compassion for others”.

 

“This young leader has become a pillar of strength in our community, proving that true achievement is not just about personal success, but about how many people you uplift along the way,” Mayor Pengilly said.

 

“Joshua’s kindness and vision for a better future perfectly embody the spirit of Kangaroo Island and the Young Achiever of the Year Award."

 

He will receive a $150 prize during the Settlement Day Ceremony at the Pioneers Memorial in Kingscote on Monday. 

 

Also acknowledged through a Mayor’s Recognition Award for Sporting Excellence was Georgie Horjus, “whose positive impact to the sport of netball, and inspiring leadership and encouragement to those dreaming of following in her footsteps is significant. Georgie is an outstanding role model for the youth of Kangaroo Island”.

 

“The Young Achiever Award is one of the most meaningful honours we can give,” Mayor Pengilly said.

 

“It shines a light on the next generation of leaders who already demonstrate the values that make our island community so special. Joshua and Georgie should be incredibly proud.”

 

Joshua, who moved to Kangaroo Island with his family from the Philippines when he was three years old, said he was training to be a tour guide and is currently working at KI Outdoor Action. 

 

“I'm doing an aviation course as well because I’m fully focussed on my career as a pilot. I go up to Port Pirie to Mid-North Christian College every term and do some flying while I'm out there and general aviation lessons for that whole week.

 

“I grew up around a lot of airplanes because my family would often fly back to the Philippines. My earliest memory is flying as a child and I just really love planes – they are so cool.”

 

The sky’s the limit.