HEATHCOTE resident Ruth Austin wants to see more events and activities for young people within a thirty-kilometre radius of the town.<\/p>\n
Spurred on by the success of the recent Halloween Spooktacular, she\u2019s seeking a willing band of volunteers to form a committee for the district\u2019s young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need community members to join us at the Commercial Hotel in Heathcote at 7pm on Monday, 12 December to get things started\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking for people who are willing to help organise activities, as well as those with experience in areas such grant applications and fundraising.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe children in the area deserve to have some activities such as Halloween, a disco or a swimming pool party with a local DJ.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only are we looking at it for the children\u2026 we would also like to have fundraising events for adults to raise money for these activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been talking about things like a market in High Street, a bachelor and spinster ball or a disco.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy holding functions and raising money through them, along with grants, we will be able to keep the cost of the children\u2019s events down.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we want to use local services and support local businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids can\u2019t just go to Bendigo for activities and they\u2019ve got to rely on their parents to take them to things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile they\u2019ve gone to primary school together, many of them go to different high schools so local activities helps maintain friendships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Austin said the recent Spooktacular event, which saw the High Street transformed for Halloween, had shown what a grassroots initiative could achieve.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts strength was that it was a group of volunteers,\u201d Ms Austin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt became so important to do this year because the Heathcote show was cancelled and the way it went off, I couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust standing there watching the children, and even the adults, dressing up and doing the trick or treating.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone was looking out for each other and talking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere was like a friendly party.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s seeking a willing band of volunteers to form a committee for the district\u2019s young people. \u201cWe need community members to join us at […]<\/p>\n