Community
28 January, 2026
'Thank you mum': not listening to doctor the best decision for Young Citizen of Year
IF FLETCHER Holmes-Brown had listened to doctors a few years ago, there would be a lot of things in his life he wouldn’t have achieved.
IF FLETCHER Holmes-Brown had listened to doctors a few years ago, there would be a lot of things in his life he wouldn’t have achieved.
He wouldn’t have been Charlton College school captain, wouldn’t have completed his VCE studies, or now he wouldn’t have been named the Buloke Shire Council’s Young Citizen of the Year.
And there’s one important person he has to thank for the fact he has now achieved all of those things and more.
His mum Jacinta.
“She is the only person in this room [Charlton Park] who is too humble to recognise that her efforts are far more reflective of who I am today than my own,” he said in his acceptance speech at the award ceremony last Thursday night.
“Three years ago today, we were told that I would have to give up on my dreams to look after my health.
“That schooling, participation in sport were not part of my recovery.
“And I can say three years later, we are bloody glad to not have taken that advice.”
Mr Holmes-Brown is known across the Charlton community for his involvement with a number of organisations including Buloke Youth Advisory Group, Buloke Freeza Group, Charlton Youth Group, Charlton SLC, the Rex Film Selection Committee, Charlton Arts (as Vice President), and Young Voices Victoria (as Secretary).
Beyond his community service, Fletcher has demonstrated strong academic leadership, being recognised as a finalist in the 2025 VCE Leadership Awards.
“His involvement is defined by consistency, initiative, and a genuine commitment to supporting young people in the community,” the submission for Fletcher’s award said.
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