Powerful voices take the mic

WOMEN’S voices took centre stage as a full house gathered in Torquay last month to hear powerful stories of strength and resilience.

About 80 guests attended Art of the Minds’ fourth Her Story event, held at The Sands, raising money for the mental health-focused volunteer-run organisation.

 

 

“The Art of the Minds team are floating on cloud 9,” president Sarah Molnar said.

“We are thrilled with the event and the impact it had on our guests who left with inspiration, a topped up social battery and with a renewed sense of connection to self, community and story.”

 

 

The event’s keynote speaker was mental health expert and author Kabinga Mazaba, who shared her own story of resilience, as well as insights on moving through trauma from her best-selling book CONFRONT: Reclaim Your Life, released in January last year.

“Kabinga Mazaba was mesmerising,” Ms Molnar said. “She opened by leading an impromptu dance session to the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive.

“The high energy was then followed with light and shade, as Kabinga shared her story marred by loss and violation, but then showed us how she moved through the pain and now is living the life she wants to lead.”

 

The audience also heard from Rachel Bishop, the founder of EndoArt, a series of creative workshops for people with endometriosis, and five-time mayor and Medal of the Order of Australia recipient Rose Hodge.

The event concluded with performances from Art of the Minds vice-president Elizabeth Riordan, 2024 Art of the Minds songwriting competition finalist Jasmine Jade, and the Secret Songwriters Club, a music project for preteen girls aged between eight and 12 led by Melody Moon.

 

 

“Jasmine’s moving performance of Olive Trees left many in the audience with goosebumps and tears in their eyes,” Ms Molnar said.

“Melody and her four young performers – Isla, Eadie, Harlow and Evie – performed two songs they had written together, with the audience and their proud mums watching on.”