The Timboon 18-year-old was selected as national finalist in the ABC's 'Heywire' competition after submitting a story on how she has coped with a serious stomach disease.

Bethany was one of 33 young people to win a place at this week's Heywire annual youth forum in Canberra.

Federal member for Wannon Dan Tehan yesterday congratulated Bethany on her story which highlights the determination of young people who grow up in the country.

"Her message was simple and clear: in the face of a challenge, country kids never back down," Mr Tehan said.

Youth issues will be the hot topic for the forum and will focus chiefly on tackling the many issues of small town survival.

"I'm having an amazing time, we all are. The forum is better then I ever imagined and one of the best experiences in my life," Bethany said.

"On the first day we broke in to issue groups and I chose to focus on alcohol and drug abuse in country areas. We will be presenting our ideas to a panel at parliament house," she said.

"Unfortunately, these issues are prevalent in my home town and surrounding areas. Older youths need to start becoming better role models," she said.

Bethany, who has just finished year 12, plans to bring her knowledge home from Canberra to Timboon.

Doctors are still unsure what Bethany's diagnosis is, but she knows she is unable to ride her horse without feeling incredible pain and exhaustion.

"I won't let the fact that my stomach, because of the scars of too many operations now looks like somebody has played numerous game of naughts and crosses on it, get me down," Bethany wrote.

Her closing line of the story sums up the overall message of the hardships and desperation of life in the country.

"I'm a country kid after all, and as every one of you knows - we never back down from a challenge."

Bethany has deferred a university place in her top preference of a double degree in arts/law at Latrobe University and will take the year off.