Kate Brennan has always been urging young people to think nationally and act locally, believing small starts are like the tiny seeds that grow into gumtrees. At 16, she addressed the National Youth Science Forum in Canberra on sustainable development, inter-generational justice, and bio-ethics. Kate was a volunteer paralegal at the Redfern Aboriginal Legal Service throughout her Arts/Law studies. An internship in Katherine, NT became a turning point in her life when she witnessed first hand the injustice known by so many Indigenous people. Kate came up with an idea that has worked wonders. She established swimming training as a vehicle to help young people realise their strengths. She has trained young Indigenous leaders as swimming coaches and to promote preventive health activities and is now NSW Director of the Oaktree Foundation with a team of over 800 volunteers.