GEELONG\u2019S largest costume hire operator, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, is facing closure if it can\u2019t garner support for its valuable community service.<\/p>\n
The Dress Up Place has helped stage productions by numerous schools and theatre troupes across the region but now needs a helping hand itself.<\/p>\n
Julie Hall, co-founder of the Grovedale not-forprofit, said The Dress Up Place has been able to offer access and affordability to costumes for more than a decade, but business has tightened and the shop\u2019s 27,000 costumes could be hung up for good next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started as a group of friends who had all been involved in the theatre, mainly Geelong Lyric. We saw the need for a central body for costumes everyone could afford.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve provided costumes for everyone. We\u2019ve done all sorts of shows: Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, Peter Pan, themed parties, medieval weddings and lots more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along the way, The Dress Up Place evolved from a supplier to an unofficial training centre for people with disabilities, and is registered with Volunteering Geelong and Centrelink.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were approached by St Laurence Disability Services about re-training people to re-enter the workforce and that\u2019s become a big part of our\u00a0operation,\u201d Ms Hall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not funded for that any more but we\u00a0currently have 14 volunteers and eight have a disability of some sort.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have three cancer survivors, three diabetics, two with epilepsy, a couple with OCD and a lady who\u2019s deaf.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the business was still being used by schools and amateur theatre companies but public demand has dropped off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s Book Week and dress-up days and school concerts, so things are usually busy for the last six months of the year. But the first half is usually quiet and we\u2019re basically funded to the end of March and that\u2019s it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad but we know what\u2019s coming and that\u2019s why we\u2019re hoping someone or some organisation might be able to help us out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in the process of registering as a taxdeductible non-profit, we tick all the boxes; and\u00a0hopefully that will help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anyone interested in assisting The Dress Up Place, either with financial support or an alternate venue, can email Julie Hall at jhall@thedressupplace. com.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG\u2019S largest costume hire operator, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, is facing closure if it can\u2019t garner support for its valuable community service. The Dress Up Place has helped stage productions by numerous schools and theatre troupes across the region but now needs a helping hand itself. Julie Hall, co-founder of the Grovedale not-forprofit, […]<\/p>\n