Young people from the Great Southern and Southern Wheatbelt have given their boots an extra shine in preparation for the first-ever Boots and Ballgowns dance to promote mental health in the region.
Evolving from a conversation at a local football club, 10 girls from Lake Grace Reconnect are hosting the first Boots and Ballgowns, a sparkling soiree to shine a light on mental health in regional towns on October 5 in the Lake Grace Town Hall.
Special guest Sean Phillips director of The Shaka Project will share his mental health journey and how his project promotes awareness, understanding, and support surrounding the tough subject since 2019.
The event has been described as “a classier affair than traditional Bachelor and Spinster balls” by the organisers with live music, cocktails and food trucks to enjoy from 4pm till late into the night.
Boots and Ballgowns is the first of three events in the Wheatbelt south region under the Youth Events and Network project led by Suzanne Reeves at the Lake Grace Community Resource Centre and funded by the Foundation for the Rural and Regional Renewal.
Pingelly will host the second event in February next year followed by the Darkan Beach Party.
The project is directed towards 18 to 35-year-olds and is designed to build and support the capabilities of future leaders in regional areas.
Lake Grace Reconnect committee member Maggie Prater said, “we all have busy lives” so the committee decided Boots and Ballgowns would be a “good excuse to get frocked up, discuss important issues and dance the night away”.
“We needed an event that could unite the youth and bid connectivity,” she said.
“We have an amazing little community and hope by planning these events we can keep it that way.
“A bonus would be that guests can come away from the event thinking ‘wow how fun was that’ and hopefully spark the conversation of mental health.”
Limited tickets are on sale now at www.trybooking.com/CTVVF and include a food voucher and a free drink on arrival.
