Winter Wonderland ball hailed a success

LIBERTY Disability Services and Friend in Me are celebrating the success of their first Winter Wonderland Ball.

More than 60 people filled the Geelong RSL last Saturday (July 19) to celebrate everything disability, connection and community.

Liberty Disability co-director Kathie Denno said it was a wonderful event with participants from across Geelong and Colac turning out for the night.

“What was wonderful about the event was that we had several participants who had never been to a ball or a party before.

More than 60 people headed on for the inaugural and inclusive event.

“We had a couple of people who within five to 10 minutes of being there, felt insecure, felt they couldn’t stay, but because of the support they received and the beautiful acceptance they received at the event, they stayed.”

The dance floor was hopping into the night, with some people also making use of the mobile sensory zone that was on site, along with the beauty bar for hair and makeup touch ups.

Guests were encouraged to dress their way, whether that was in a sparkly dress, something comfy or full glam.

“What I found really different about this than every other event that I’ve been to [was that] it wasn’t about raising funds, it wasn’t about advertising, it was really about creating an inclusive event,” Ms Denno said.

“It was about the participants, it was about the people that attended and everyone said they’d come again, everybody said they loved it.”

The beauty bar was a major hit with attendees, providing a hair and makeup touch up service.

For the organisers, one of the highlights from the evening was watching people who were shy and unsure of themselves at the beginning, get up and start dancing and being fully engaged by the end of the night.

This was the first year the two organisations have joined together to deliver the ball, an idea that came from a place of wanting to host something that was truly inclusive, without the big price tag.

“We know that social connectivity is the biggest issue that people with disability and people who present differently have,” Ms Dunno said.

“This has been something we’ve been dreaming about, from a Liberty perspective, for the last five years.”

Liberty Disability and Friend in Me plan for the ball to return again next year, with the hope of also getting some sponsors on board.