Former prime minister Tony Abbott toured the Wimmera Cancer Centre before delivering a student leadership forum at Wimmera Lutheran College in Horsham on Friday.

Mr Abbott was accompanied by Member for Lowan Emma Kealy, who said it was wonderful to show him what had grown since 2015 when he announced $1-million in Commonwealth funding for the proposed Wimmera oncology unit.

“The centre is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when our community fights for something,” she said.

Ms Kealy, a first-term Nationals MP in Opposition at the time, fought alongside the community to secure the State Government funding needed to make the project a reality.

The funding backed a community campaign, which raised $1-million for what became Wimmera Cancer Centre.

Friday’s forum gave student leaders and youth councillors from across western Victoria the opportunity to learn about Mr Abbott’s journey into politics, his time as prime minister, and some of the most difficult decisions and situations he faced in office.

“Supporting our next generation of leaders is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our region,” Ms Kealy said.

“Tony spoke candidly about leadership, challenges, and having the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even when it isn’t easy.

“I want young people growing up in the Wimmera to know their ideas matter, their leadership matters and there is no limit to what they can achieve.”

Mr Abbott encouraged the students to follow their interests and to reflect in the interest of self-improvement.

“One of my practices, which my Jesuit teachers were very consistent upon when I was much younger, is this question of this purpose, examining your conscience every night,” he said.

“Before you go to sleep, just for a couple of minutes, ask yourself, ‘what’s happened today?’ ‘what could I have done better?’ ‘what did I do well?’.

“Make a mental note of that and try to learn from your reflections of the day.”

Answering a student’s question about how young people could make a difference in their communities, Mr Abbott said it started with best effort.

“If you’re a student, try to be the best possible student. If you’re in a sports team, try to be the best possible team-mate and try to be as good as you can be – not that we’re all going to be superstars,” he said.

“Try to be a good friend, be helpful to your siblings, helpful to your parents, be pleasant to your neighbours. 

“And when opportunities come up, make the most of them.”

Wimmera Lutheran College Horsham campus captain Evan Hahn thanked Mr Abbott for his time.

“It’s been great hearing your stories and having you share your experiences – people of all ages can take something away from this,” he said. 

“It’s such a privilege to have someone like you talk to all of us and have us have questions that you’re so willing to answer and you’re obviously very passionate about.”

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