Many in the room were returned service personnel who had seen many poignant things during active duty, but Ms Pymont’s personal story and a poem she penned after an inspirational visit to Kokoda moved everyone.

City Diggers Wollongong general manager Phil Ryan is a giant of a man who towers above most people, but he admits being overwhelmed by emotion and pride as he watched the young woman he has come to know and greatly respect  over the past 12 months.

Mr Ryan said when he first met MsPymont a year ago, there was no way she would have had the confidence to do what she did in Melbourne.

She barely comes up to his waist in height, but she has made a big impression on the man who is now helping her into a career in hospitality.

His voice quivers with emotion as he speaks of her achievements and reflects on the big smile he now sees daily around City Diggers, greeting and giving patrons a warm welcome every day.

But a few years ago there was no smile and only pain for the young woman who has experienced violence and homelessness.

At 19, Ms Pymont may still be a teenager herself, but her story of overcoming adversity and a difficult start to life has in four short years seen her become an inspiration to many other disadvantaged youth.

When she managed to start turning her life around she was immediately drawn to help others in a similar situation.

After she left home at 14, Ms Pymont supported herself and put herself through high school.

Through her own hard work, determination and involvement with PCYC, Southern Youth Services and other youth welfare organisations, she managed to rise above many personal challenges.

She knows from personal experience the only way others can do what she has accomplished is with help from people who understand.

Ms Pymont recently became a hospitality trainee at City Diggers Wollongong after becoming the first member of her family to complete the HSC.

With the help of Senior Constable Darren Palk at PCYC she has become a peer leader herself and regularly helps out at events such as Twilight Tournaments.

Ms Pymont is quick to praise others and described Snr Const Palk as a  local hero for the work he does with youth.

But for people such as the community-minded police officer and Mr Ryan she too is a hero – so much so that she was named NSW PCYC Young Person of the Year and then took part in a life-changing experience by walking the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, after being selected for the Kokoda Youth Leadership Foundation by the RSL and Services Clubs Association (SCA).

Ms Pymont was subsequently nominated for and won recognition at the 2013 Spirit of Kokoda Awards in Melbourne.

The Spirit of Kokoda Award recognises a young person from a disadvantaged background who takes part in the leadership challenge and uses the experience to advance their life goals.

City Diggers Wollongong nominated her for the award and she had to explain her life journey.

‘‘Over the last three years of my school life, I was living alone in supported accommodation in a number of youth refuges with the help of DOCS,’’ she said.

‘‘I continued to study at school and maintain my involvement with the Wollongong PCYC, initially as an attendee and later as a youth leader in PCYC projects and camps.

‘‘I was lucky enough to develop a trusting relationship with Wollongong PCYC Youth case manager Snr Const Palk, and attended the PCYC regularly, participating in gymnastics, boxing and weights training. I began to take more responsibility and control with my life, and began to live in my own home while studying my HSC. 

‘‘I was offered the opportunity to participate in the Phoenix Camp at Lone Pine Infantry Barracks Singleton, and found myself having the confidence to become a leader among the other participants. I am currently Wollongong PCYC’s Blue Star Youth Leadership representative.’’

Ms Pymont said her decision to leave home at such an early age, because of issues she faced, had not been easy, caused stress and affected her study.

But she did not let that stop her achieving her goal of attaining the HSC.

‘‘I found it very hard to concentrate,  and am very grateful for the help I received from my teachers and the people at the PCYC and Southern Youth Services,’’ she said.

‘‘I went through a period of self harm while at school, and spent periods in hospital as a result. I very nearly quit school. Fortunately I did not, and did well in my HSC. The Kokoda Youth Leadership Challenge was a turning point in my life, and an experience that for the first time, I started to gain some respect for myself.’’

Snr Const Palk recommended her to City Diggers as an ideal candidate for the challenge.

Ms Pymont said her experience of walking the Kokoda Track had greatly changed her perception of what it was to be an Australian.

‘‘Prior to Kokoda, I just viewed myself as an ordinary person, living in a country that offered more than other nations and taking a lot of things for granted.

‘‘Kokoda has greatly changed my views and shaken my complacency. 

‘‘I have seen that other people in this world don’t have a fraction of the lifestyle and good fortune that we Australians enjoy. I will certainly not be taking these things for granted in the future. 

‘‘The trek has inspired me to continue to help others, in my activities with the PCYC and the youth camps, and anywhere else I may be of assistance. I have realised that I am, and all young people are, the future of Australia – the leaders of the next generation,’’ Ms Pymont said. 

‘‘I will be proud to pass on stories of Australia’s past that I learnt at Kokoda. These stories and my experience of walking Kokoda with other young people has shown me that anything in life is achievable with one step at a time.’’

She intends to continue working with the Wollongong PCYC, recently completed a Certificate in Construction and then accepted an opportunity to enter a hospitality traineeship with City Diggers.  She is grateful to Mr Ryan and the board for helping her on a career path by giving her valuable workplace experience, training and tertiary qualifications.

Mr Ryan said the transformation he had seen in Ms Pymont was amazing. He said he and his wife, Michelle,  felt like proud parents when she delivered her acceptance speech in Melbourne.

‘‘The entries of the winner and Hayley were so close that the RSL and SCA awarded Hayley a highly commended award and presented her with the same trophy and recognition as the winner,’’ Mr Ryan said.

‘‘This required Hayley to make a speech in front of 300 attendees, many of whom are returned service personnel. She was wonderful. As part of her speech, she read out a poem she had written in honour of, and thanks to, our Diggers. I am not ashamed to say I had tears in my eyes, and I was far from alone. I was taken aback by the amount of people who went out of their way to congratulate Hayley later in the night – they were truly touched by her sentiments. Ms Pymont said she would not be where she was today without the tremendous support of so many organisations and people. Then she said ‘‘I would like to read a small poem that I have written’’.