Never one to shy away from a challenge is a succinct way to describe future Central Queensland University BA Honours student and ABC ‘Heywire’ winner, Rachel Taylor.

Rachel, who is due to be married in December, has just completed her Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Sociology at CQU Mackay and has applied to study local history in her honours year.

Rachel has developed a fascination with Mackay history and in particular local legend about the naming of ‘The Leap’, dating back to European settlement in the 1860s. She is so fascinated in fact, that history of ‘The Leap’ is likely to be the topic of her thesis when she commences her honours next year.

Rachel’s interest in ‘The Leap’ has stemmed from her love of “gender, ethnicity and history”, but she is aware that finding out the facts may not be easy. Among the challenges Rachel will face as she researches her topic is the lack of historical data and the difficulties she may face interviewing local Aborigines about past history and culture.

Described by Sub-Dean of Arts, Health and Sciences, Dr Mike Danaher as “an excellent student of history,” Rachel Taylor has many other strings to her bow.

For the second year in a row she has won the CQU Student Association scholarship of $1000 for her participation in university and community activities and events. This year Rachel was the Foundation President of the Sociology Club, President of the Christian Club, Secretary of Toast Masters, Mackay coordinator of the Golden Key Honour Society and a CQU student mentor.

As if that’s not enough to keep her busy, Rachel also decided to enter this year's ABC ‘Heywire’ competition in which young people aged 16-22 from across the country write an engaging story about anything that is important to them. The story must be non-fiction, no more than 400 words and relate to life in rural or regional Australia.

Rachel’s winning story entitled ‘Apathy’, focused on local and international issues that impact on the lives of young people in regional Australia.

“I believe the problems of the world are caused by people not doing anything about them, and being generally apathetic,” she said.

Other winning ‘Heywire’ stories include thoughts on bridging the gap between country and city, living away from home to study, the disadvantages faced by young people in rural areas, the impact of isolation, and the trials – both sad and funny – of life in regional Australia.

Each of the winning stories will be produced by the ABC and broadcast across ABC Radio over summer and into early 2005. The winners will also participate in the Heywire Youth Issues Forum at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra in February 2005.

According to Rachel she’s “always busy”, and will continue to be. Following her wedding and honeymoon in December, Rachel will participate in the Heywire Youth Issues Forum in Canberra, then return to study at CQU, where lecturer Dr Mike Danaher is “looking forward to supervising her thesis".

Information about Heywire is available online at www.abc.net.au/heywire .

Photo above: Future CQU B. A. Honours student and ‘Heywire’ winner Rachel Taylor will commence researching the history of 'The Leap' as her thesis topic in 2005.