Yarra City Council recently announced the winners of the 2019 Yarra Community Awards, to celebrate everyday heroes doing fantastic work in our community. We are delighted that two artistic groups were recognised through the awards – Girl Zone and the LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club. 

Congratulations to all recipients of the 2019 Yarra Community Awards! A full list of recipients can be found here.

Contributions to Arts: Girl Zone

Girl Zone is a squad of five girls aged 12 and 13 from Melbourne bursting with energy, confidence and fire. Together Atong, Achol, Akuech, Zoe and Nyawech make up Girl Zone, and record and perform rap music about their lives and future ambitions.

Through their participation at RYMS (Real Youth Music Studios), a local program for young people aged 8-13 from the Collingwood and Fitzroy housing estates, they continue to develop their skills, creativity and identity as young artists as well as mentoring their younger peers in their song writing.

They started their career performing at community events on the Atherton Gardens Housing Estate, and have now performed at local events including the Peel Street Festival and Leaps and Bounds, supported international artists and recently performed at Dark Mofo’s Night Mass in Hobart. They have also been commissioned by Music Victoria to develop an educational video resource to be used in schools across the state, inspiring even more young people to pursue music. 

Community Initiative of the Year: LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club

The LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club is an ongoing social transformation and dance project for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex elders (65+) and allies. Held every month for the last four years in the City of Yarra, LGBTI+ elders attend this interactive creative event for free, learn new dances, enjoy delicious catering and drinks, and interact with other LGBTI+ elders and allies.

The LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club combats ageism, social isolation, and discrimination by supporting the recreational, physical and social rights of LGBTI+ elders through creative and social actions. Central to the project is creating a regular space for LGBTI+ elders that is safe and inclusive.
The LGBTI+ Elders Dance Club is created by Tristan Meecham, Bec Reid and Andrew Westle in collaboration with LGBTI+ elders.