If 23-year-old Julia Weber is crowned NSW Young Woman of the Year next month, the title is testimony to the work she does for scores of people not much younger than herself.
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Julia, of Heddon Greta, was nominated for the work she does helping youngsters of all backgrounds with financial literacy.
The Newcastle Permanent contracts officer will find out at a gala dinner in Sydney on March 5, if she has taken out the final. The person who nominated Julia remains anonymous.
She was shortlisted to the final 12 before going before a judging panel which whittled the finalists down to three.
Julia is now pitted against Hannah Beder, a computer scientist who mentors young women to be successful in the tech industry, and Mariam Mohammed, president, of the Sydney University Postgraduate Association, leading the organisation to deliver a 600 per cent increase in its community engagement.
For Julia, it's not all about the award but about helping others.
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She teaches financial literacy through the University of Newcastle and also to high school students in Years 9 and 10.
She also volunteers, organising events for students who are already studying business or commerce, connecting them with local industry to try to keep them in the Hunter.
"I learned of my nomination about a month ago and I was extremely surprised - I cried a little," she said.
"I'm really honoured to be alongside these other two finalists and I'm looking forward to meeting them in Sydney at the event."
The NSW Women of the Year Awards are part of NSW Women's Week from March 2 to 8.