Fashion focus for anti-power line event

October 2, 2023 BY Tim Bottams

Opposing goal: An upcoming fundraiser event is being organised by members of the Kingston and District Power Alliance, whose aim is to stop the construction of 500-kilovolt 80-metre-high transmission towers through western Victoria. Photo: FILE

AN upcoming showcase of wedding fashions passed will soon take place with the aim of bringing a financial boost to the Kingston and District Power Alliance.

The group is part of a broader network of community groups opposed to the construction of the Western Renewables Link, which would see a 190-kilometre line of 500-kilovolt electricity towers constructed throughout Victoria’s west.

Kingston and District Power Alliance secretary and acting chair Louise Charleson said the central aim behind their wedding fashion fundraiser is to highlight their mission.

“It’s to raise awareness about what is happening in our community and to raise funds since we, as part of a bigger group, have taken this to the Supreme Court,” she said.

“We wanted something we can involve a lot of community members and age groups to and parading these dresses shows how far we’ve come in the area and sort of timelines each decade.

“From our angle, this is old technology being used and we’re wanting to look to the future and seeing how we can do things better.”

About 60 dresses will feature in the show, with the oldest dating back to 1870 and the final display to be a protest piece reinforcing the group’s goal.

Operating under the Victorian Power Alliance, the Kingston and District Power Alliance covers about 30 kilometres of the proposed Western Renewables bordering Tourello near Clunes towards Mollongghip near Newlyn.

Ms Charleson said the event will also be about fostering community connectiveness.

“As much as anything, it’s about everyone coming together and having a nice afternoon,” she said.

“A lot of people have been very stressed about this. It’s really been affecting their mental health.”

The group has held similar fundraising efforts such as a gala and auction held in February which raised more than $70,000 and is set to return early next year.

Kingston and District Power Alliance’s Wedding Fashions Through the Years event will take place at the Newlyn Recreation Reserve on Sunday 15 October from 2.30pm.

Tickets are $60 and can be booked at bit.ly/3PzKGsB.