At just 12 years old, Saxon Goodwin from Bridgewater is already carving out a remarkable story of passion and community spirit. One of the youngest members of the Brighton Youth Action Group (BYAG), Saxon brings boundless enthusiasm and curiosity to everything he does.

Like many kids, Saxon’s early interests were shaped at home. At around six years old, he followed in his dad’s footsteps and fell in love with Aussie Rules football. But everything changed the moment he picked up a basketball. From that instant, Saxon knew he wanted to be a basketball player.

Despite having a slight build and experiencing bullying at school because of his size, Saxon refused to let this hold him back. In Grade 4, he joined the Glenorchy Revs and quickly proved himself to be among the top players in his age group. His determination and talent were already shining through.

That same year, another door opened. When Saxon’s mum and sister began dancing with Angeliques School of Dance, he found himself captivated by a completely new world. Watching videos of male dancers inspired him to give dancing a try, and soon he was learning an impressive range of styles including ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop.

“It was a bit scary when I first started at dance school,” Saxon says. “But I had really good teachers who encouraged me. I started performing in concerts and then competitions. I won a Junior Hip Hop Award at my first competition, and that pushed me to work even harder.”

Balancing competitive basketball and dance eventually became too much, and Saxon made the difficult decision to step away from basketball. In doing so, he discovered that dance wasn’t just an interest — it was his true passion.

Away from the studio, Saxon’s curiosity continues to shine. He has a strong fascination with ghosts and the paranormal and never turns down a good ghost story. At school, he enjoys science, art and history, with a particular interest in the Titanic and the tragic story of the Goodwin family — his namesakes — who all perished in the ship’s sinking.

Saxon became involved in BYAG through his older brother Connor, who is also a member. What drew him in was the chance to help plan events and activities, advocate for better public transport in the Brighton area, go on camps, enjoy activities like roller skating, and most importantly, connect with others while supporting the local community.

“Bridgewater is a great place,” Saxon says. “We have a beautiful foreshore with great views of the water and the bridge. You can go fishing, there are lots of parks, and I get to live close to my Nan. I’d just like to see more places to eat — healthier options, not just fast food.”

Looking ahead, Saxon dreams of becoming a professional dancer or actor and hopes to explore his fascination with the paranormal even further. With his determination, creativity and strong sense of community, there’s little doubt this young local will continue to make his mark.