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Select a FReeZA Committee in the Grampians regions to find out more:
» Ballarat - Sonika
» Bannockburn - Inya Face
» Horsham - Nexus FReeZA
» Daylesford - Hepburn FReeZA
» Ararat - Twisted
» Edenhope - Youth Challenge
» Bacchus Marsh - As Time Ends
» Nhill - Hindmarsh Youth Music and Cultural Events
» Stawall - LenZone FReeZA
Youth Challenge
West Wimmera Shire Council, Edenhope
FReeZA Contact:
Sarah Vanzini
Ph: 5392 7700
Email: youthofficer@westwimmera.vic.gov.au
Web: www.westwimmera.vic.gov.au (new window)
Bio - Our FReeZA committees have been running for 3 years. We have a committee in each of our larger towns, Edenhope, Goroke and Kaniva. We meet usually once a month as individual committees and come together every 2 or three months as a whole committee. We travel by bus to each others towns, have a meal together, socialise, find out what each committee has planned and share ideas. Our philosophy is to meet other people our own age, try out different ideas for FReeZA events and have fun.
Crew – Our crew are aged between 12 years of age to 16 or 17 the interest is varied from hard core to what is playing on the radio at the moment. Dance stuff is also big.
Events – Good fun something different every time whether it be a different band or maybe hosting an activity that we can’t normally have at other events, such as the mechanical bull. We usually have bands and a DJ that’s what we all like and we try to cater for the YP who want to come but aren’t into dancing. We are always open to other ideas so if you have some please let us know.
Highlights - The best ever FReeZA event and achievement was our combined FReeZA last year when 3 committees got together and planned a big FReeZA event; we had 3 bands, Innovation and PHATT from Horsham, and Captain Sam and the Good Time Mobile, our locally grown band. Earlier this year we held an event in Goroke with another local band, Mentality from Kaniva, and a mechanical bull with thrills and spills every where. Also Kaniva FReeZA Committee along with the Advance class at Kaniva College organised a Barbie and Ken Night with 2 bands and DJ with guitar hero, air hockey, pool table and a dance revolution to entertain the crowd. Edenhope have a vibrant enthusiastic FReeZA committee and are in the process of pulling together their major event for 2008, DANCE!
Benefits - FReeZA means a great deal to the young people within our area it gives the youth an opportunity to work together on events which suit their interests, it gives our youth the ability to meet their peers throughout the region in a social setting. FReeZA enables us to have funds just for youth projects.
Community Support – We enjoy great community support from the Edenhope, Goroke, and Kaniva Colleges. The service clubs such as Rotary, Apex, Lions, Ambulance Volunteers, SES all contribute to FReeZA’s success in our region.
Kaniva Bus Service, Blands buses from Goroke, Kaniva Community Roadhouse, IGA and Foodworks Supermarkets are supporters of the YOUth events within the West Wimmera Shire.
Hepburn FReeZA
Hepburn Shire Council, Daylesford
FReeZA Contact:
Jane Barclay
Ph: 5348 2306
Email: jbarclay@hepburn.vic.gov.au
Web: www.hepburnshire.com.au (new window)
Creswick - www.myspace.com/creswickfreeza (new window)
Clunes - www.myspace.com/FrEeZaKREWW (new window)
Bio - Hepburn FReeZA runs across the four man towns of Hepburn Shire, Clunes, Creswick, Daylesford and Trentham (OR Trenam). Groups of young people in each of the towns work alongside the Hepburn Shire Youth Development Co-ordinator to manage the FreeZA funding. Each town has a budget of $4000 with which they aim to run two events throughout the year, one stand alone music event of any discription and one broader culture and arts interest event, tied to a community celebration or festival.
Crew -The committees and their interests are very diverse, ranging in age from 13 to 20 (although 12-25 is the official range). Hip hop workshops, live gigs from local bands, dance parties, well known punk and metal bands, skate and BMX comps, drama and art are all in the agenda somewhere (a little schizophrenia can be a good thing!)
Events - Events are as diverse as the young people who run them! Who knows what to expect?
Benefits - We are all about creating opportunities, making our home towns fun places to be and helping the older folks see that young people have a lot to offer.
back to topAs Time Ends
YMCA Of Moorabool Inc, Bacchus Marsh
FReeZA Contact:
Taegen Reid
Ph: 5367 6650
Email: taegen.reid@ymca.org.au
Web: www.moorabool.ymca.org.au (new window)
www.myspace.com/astimeends (new window)
Bio - As Time Ends FReeZA committee replaced the old group ‘My Voice’ in 2007. We are made up of 5 people who love art, music, gigs, extreme sports and just having fun.
Crew – Our crew at the moment is made up of 4 guys and 1 girl, but others drift in and out. We are all at high school and are into punk, rock and metal
Events – Our events always involve performers from our area or school. You can hang out with mates and meet new ones.
Highlights - Best event we had was a gig in 2006, where Behind Crimson Eyes headlined, and In Fiction, Comp Jaime and Liquid Memory supported.
Benefits - FReeZA is something in our town where we can do fun stuff on our own without parents, but still be safe.
Community Support – The Bacchus Marsh Secondary College support us, as well as the local police, CFA, solar youth group, rotary, abree real estate, YMCA, plunj, Moorabool News, council
Sonika
City Of Ballarat, Ballarat
This year FReeZA Funship is looking at running different events than they have run before.
FReeZA Contact:
Shaun Adams
ph:
email: shaunadams@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Bio - The Sonika Crew, formerly known as FReeZA Funship, has been around since 1997. We try to help those wanting to further their interest / skills in the music industry and also those with interest in different areas such as art, performance. We try to appeal to everybody by holding music events with different genres, as well as artshows/workshops, battle of the bands and generalist music gigs. This year the Crew are planning to hold events that will appeal to different age groups including comedy shows, open mic nights and an 80's disco.
Crew - Our committee is built up of people who not only have an interest in the music industry/ event management, but also those who want to experience FReeZA. We encourage everybody to apply. Our application process is laid back involving a mix of simple questions asked by previous/ leaving FReeZA members. These members share their experiences with interviewees.
Events - This year Sonika is looking at running different events than they have run before. The first of these was Artsource an artshow for young artists in Ballarat. It gave the committee the opportunity to see a different side of event planning and we were very lucky to have on the committee someone who has experience in running artshows. Other events include a battle of the bands competition, with a new partner, the Oaktree Foundation.
Our other upcoming events aim to move away from the standard bands shows with 80s dicso which will be included in Stuffest, our Youth Festival that runs in September, also with Stuffest the group are looking at running an open mic night where you can come and give anything a go from siging to comedy, then hopfully fininsh the year off with an end of year outdoor hip hop gig down at our local skate park.
Our committee aim to run events that are inclusive for all, in a safe, drug, smoke, alcohol free and friendly environment.
Highlights - Sonika has recently been involved in Grammy Winner - Wolfmother's tour in Victoria at Kryal Castle, selecting local acts to perform. This event gave the group the opportunity not only to form a new partnership with the University of Ballarat's Student Association but to see the insides of a large event. The group were involved in the selection of the local artist. For this the guys had to listen to 20 CDs then select a final 4 that was then handed onto the stakeholders for the evening which then selected the final 2. Our group were very excited when their number 1 choice Neon Love were the final group to make it through. This gave a young local band an awesome opportunity and the experience to perform in front of a large audience. The event manager regularly came to our meetings to keep the group up to date on how everything was going, how to deal with problems, issues that come up with such a large event. Sonika on the day were there for helping with set up, had the ability to watch how the sound technicians also go about working a gig this large. We were there form early afternoon to be available for any last minute things that might be needed to be done. The actual evening was spent enjoying the concert. Due to so many people involved there was very limited access to back stage. Two members were involved in helping Neon Love with their gear etc.
Even though the Wolfmother gig would be one of the largest gigs that Funship has been involved in the group are looking more forward to their Battle this year. This year for Battle Sonika are working in conjunction with The Oaktree Foundation, by linking their Make Poverty History Road Trip in with Funships' Battle of the Bands 2007. This gives Sonika another awesome opportunity to be involved in something larger than just your average music gig an I'm sure will love writing the next event profile survey.
Community Support - The type of community support v arises from in-kind support or matching dollar for dollar for prizes eg, vouchers. Support form other youth agencies help with the distribution of promotion, schools assist with advertising. Our community radio station, Voice FM support our events by the way of promotion as well.
In ya Face
Golden Plains Shire Council, Bannockburn
FReeZA Contact:
Aleisha Harling
Ph: 5220 7177
Email: aharling@gplains.vic.gov.au
Web: www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au (new window)
Bio - The GPS FReeZA committee consists of young people from across the Shire who are picking up skills and experience in co-ordinating youth events, making great things happen for all young people across the shire. As the GPS FReeZA Crew is relatively new- they are starting to gain some fantastic ideas and are excited of the opportunities for 2008.
Crew - The GPS FReeZA crew come from around the shire and are committed and excited to take on new activities and events for 2008. The crew love the night sessions and having large events full of a range of awesome activities.
Events - Our events have a certain something as they are often held in what seems to be in the middle of nowhere in a hall or stadium. We provide lots of freebies like fairy floss, temporary tattoos and glo sticks and make the entry cost free or really cheap to make sure everyone can come! Lately we have had entertaining events at night with DJ's or bands, but we are always up for new ideas and different things to try. .
Highlights - All the FReeZA events have been something special, but the recent GloBall offered something different. Four live loud bands in a country sports stadium with free glo sticks on entry and professional Glo Twirlers entertaining the punters between band sets. Magic.
Community Support - Our local police are absolute stars. They put in so much work on FReeZA and are very much up for working with young people. Our local general stores come to the party and provide impressive canteens for our events. And we just could not do without the parents who get back in the car and drive young people to meetings, put on safety vests and stand out in the cold directing traffic and put in ear plugs and hang around for our events.
Nexus FReeZA
Grampians Community Health Centre Inc (Nexus), Horsham
FReeZA Contact:
Alois Kniebeiss
Ph: 5382 1497
Email: alois.k@gchc.org.au
Web: www.myspace.com/nexushorsham (new window)
Bio - We really kicked off with a pretty new group of young people at the start of 2008. We pick up students from one local school and take them to the local college where we have a combined FReeZA planning meetings at lunchtimes Tuesday fortnightly. This has grown to around 16 young people. We also meet the alternate Tuesdays at Nexus youth centre between 4-6pm, where the guys put together posters, make phone calls, set up stage, go shopping for gear etc. The muso’s also jam and drive everyone crazy! But its all cool because we have double brick and double glazed windows! lol
Crew – The majority is year 9 boys, there is about 5 girls, ages up to about 18 with another guy who is an absolute legend who is now 19 and studying. The guys are mostly mainstream but have a diverse musical interest, from hip hop to heavy metal. Band stuff, Creative Arts and Disco etc. They are awesome but pretty crazy! Just check out the video promos, like the one about our glitter disco on our myspace page.
Events – Massive hyped up atmosphere, with multiple things often happening at once. Pro performance, Loud and Colourful, well supervised, safe and organised and a large diverse crowd.
Highlights - Probably Foam Parties, Regional Final was also mad as. But not just the 6 events a year, its also the 40 plus committee meetings, the setups the camps and road trips….its really awesome seeing young people empowered and highly involved in organising events their teenage friends really enjoy. We are seeing a lot of growth in freeza members and more after hours activities for youth in our region. Its just rockin'.
Benefits - It means that Youth have more options, more activities. Local music stores and hire companies get local business. Young people are connected to the community. Parents, Schools and stakeholders in Nexus have confidence that there are things happening that are safe, fun and relevant for young people.
Community Support – Business has given great deals, community groups have partnered and feel all part of it. We strongly endorse a full community approach in our FReeZA events. Rockstuff, Leading Edge Music, Horsham Police, Local Schools, Shire Youth workers, ie Yarriambiack Shire, Horsham Community Action Centre, Horsham Rural City Council, Grampians Community Health. They are awesome!!
Hindmarsh Youth Music and Cultural Events,
Hindmarsh Shire, Nhill
FReeZA Contact:
Fiona Werner
Ph: 5391 1811
Email: fwerner@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
Bio - Our committee is young innovative and extremely passionate in developing and implementing their ideas for improving the environment for young people in the Hindmarsh Shire. With the help of the youth officer our conceptual ideas are coming to fruition. We are dedicated to achieving our goals in an exceptional circumstances declared area which has been doing it tough for some time.
Crew - Our crew is a diverse group from each of the towns in the Hindmarsh area and most of them are in the 14 to 16 age group. We have a broad range of interests and our main theme for the activities is based around dance and live music.
Events - People coming to our events come to have a good time, meet other youth from Hindmarsh Shire towns and other surrounding towns in the Wimmera and Mallee regions.
Highlights - One of the best FReeZA activities that we hosted was based on a prom theme where we appointed a prom king and queen for the night and had prizes for different categories.
Benefits - FReeZA is about meeting new people, having fun, and forgetting the stressful things like school issues. Being on the committee has allowed youth to be involved in planning and coordinating activities by us.
Community Support - Within the Hindmarsh area the schools help coordinate and work colaboratively through dedicated youth committees to plan organise and hold FReeZA events in the main townships of the Hindmarsh Shire. Local businesses and Community groups have and will continue to support FreeZA activities through partnerships in the different community events by sponsorship, donations and volunteering.
LenZone FReeZA,
Central Grampians LLEN, Stawall
FReeZA Contact:
Hannah Ellen
Ph: 5358 5766
Email: hellen@cgllen.org.au
Twisted
Ararat YMCA, Ararat
FReeZA Contact:
Fleur McKenzie
Ph: 5352 1064
Email: fleur.mckenzie@hotmail.com
