She is already a star of big events in New England and a willing performer at local functions such as the Remembrance Day ceremony in November in Anzac Park.

But she has set her sights on the highest level of performance in dance, instrumental playing and singing.

She’s just been selected for a prestigious talent development workshop at the Sydney Opera House.

She’s one of the few promising dancers to be invited to take part in the  2018 Opera House Workshop with the Michael Clarke Company.

Michael Clarke is one of the world’s leading performers and innovators in dance.

He was a prodigy at the Royal Ballet School in London and made his name by founding his own company, which has performed in the big venues in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.

The dance style is ultra-modern, to music as diverse as punk and rock. It is not traditional.

Before joining the sessions at the Sydney Opera House, Jennifer takes part in a week of vocal work with the Talent Development Project at the International Screen Academy in Waterloo, Sydney.

This is where she was on Friday when she was announced as winner of the Young Citizen of the Year Award in Glen Innes.

She won the award for her devotion to local events – she is not a person who forgets her roots.

Her proud mother, Ellen, said Jennifer was “extremely honoured” by the nomination and the award but the daughter had already committed to the Talent Development Project at the International Screen Academy in Sydney, and that is not the kind of opportunity you turn down or pull out of.

She returns from that and then it’s off to the dance classes at the Sydney Opera House.

Where will it end? Who knows?

Show business is tough at the top end – even tougher on the way up.

But Jennifer Mackenzie is a very determined lady.