Inputs sought on more youth events

HEATHCOTE resident Ruth Austin wants to see more events and activities for young people within a thirty-kilometre radius of the town.

Spurred on by the success of the recent Halloween Spooktacular, she’s seeking a willing band of volunteers to form a committee for the district’s young people.

“We need community members to join us at the Commercial Hotel in Heathcote at 7pm on Monday, 12 December to get things started” she said.

“We are looking for people who are willing to help organise activities, as well as those with experience in areas such grant applications and fundraising.

“The children in the area deserve to have some activities such as Halloween, a disco or a swimming pool party with a local DJ.

“Not only are we looking at it for the children… we would also like to have fundraising events for adults to raise money for these activities.

“We’ve been talking about things like a market in High Street, a bachelor and spinster ball or a disco.

“By holding functions and raising money through them, along with grants, we will be able to keep the cost of the children’s events down.

“And we want to use local services and support local businesses.

“Kids can’t just go to Bendigo for activities and they’ve got to rely on their parents to take them to things.

“While they’ve gone to primary school together, many of them go to different high schools so local activities helps maintain friendships.”

Ms Austin said the recent Spooktacular event, which saw the High Street transformed for Halloween, had shown what a grassroots initiative could achieve.

Organisers were forced to make major changes at the last minute when Barrack Reserve proved too wet for the event to go ahead in its planned form and it was moved to the main street.

“Its strength was that it was a group of volunteers,” Ms Austin said.

“It became so important to do this year because the Heathcote show was cancelled and the way it went off, I couldn’t believe it.

“Just standing there watching the children, and even the adults, dressing up and doing the trick or treating.

“Everyone was looking out for each other and talking.

“The atmosphere was like a friendly party.”