IT WAS her experience during Cyclone Marcia in 2015 that lent Ellie Kendall the inspiration she needed to take home the ABC Heywire title.

The 16-year-old St Ursula's College student was crowned the Capricornia winner in the annual nation-wide competition for young regional Australians.

Ellie said her written piece surrounded the days leading up to, and following, the cyclone and her "ignorance" of the devastation a Category 5 system could leave.

"I thought it wouldn't hit us basically. And then I saw the devastation of the town and how it affected everything," she said.

"We have this tree at the front of our property and it just got snapped completely in half.

"But it was also about how our community banded together and got back on our feet so quickly; I was really proud of that."

As part of her win, Ellie had her story broadcast on ABC radio and was extended an invitation to a youth summit in Canberra with the other Heywire winners.

She said this particular part of the experience was truly "life changing".

"It was amazing just meeting all the different people and hearing what their lives were like in different parts of the country," she said.

"There was one girl from Christmas Island and her story was about crab migration."

But there was to be another win for Ellie, one she didn't find out about until yesterday morning.

Ellie and her Heywire win were mentioned in Parliament House earlier this month by Capricornia MP Michelle Landry, who labelled the rising star an "inspiration" to the region's young people.

When Ellie was told yesterday, she had to stop and Google the mention.

"Oh my God that's crazy," she said. "Wow."

Ellie, who is now in her senior year, is looking to explore international relations or commerce at university.