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Laura J, Roving reporter

NYW Blog #9 - 10 days of youth lovin' (Part 3)

When I started this three-part blog series recapping National Youth Week, I promised you ministers, juggling balls, Parliament House, fairy floss and a pink gorilla (check it out in writing here in NYW Blog 7).

In my last couple of blogs I've run you through ministers (day 2), Parliament House (day 5) and the fairy floss (day 3), but I still owe you an explanation of the juggling balls and the pink gorilla. So here it is: my last three days of National Youth Week 2011.

Day eight - Friday 8 April

I headed to Princes Hill Secondary in Carlton North for the live radio broadcast of JOY 94.9 FM. The broadcast focussed on the wellbeing of same-sex-attracted young people, and I was lucky enough to be interviewed along with representatives from organisations that help combat bullying and homophobia. You can catch my interview at JOY FM's website (new window - click on the "Podcast page" link and scroll down to item #12 or use your in-browser search to find "Laura John").

Laura John being interviewed by JOY FM 94.9 crew at National Youth Week 2011

Highlights:

  • Catching up with last year's Young Member, Micah Scott, who hosted the radio broadcast
  • Learning about the great work Joy FM does providing an independent voice for lesbian and gay communities
  • Helping to get the youthbeyondblue message out there: look for the signs of depression, listen to your friends' experiences, talk about what's going on and seek help together!

Day nine - Saturday 9 April

Day nine and I checked out the Skate of Mind festival hosted by the City of Kingston's Chelsea Community Renewal Program and Kingston Youth and Family Services. There were heaps of stalls, great local bands including Rise Electric (check them out on their Facebook (new window)), skating and BMX competitions, and a pretty funky inflatable slide.

The brilliant thing about this event was that it involved a collaboration between a range of community services including the FReeZA youth committee, Chelsea Rotary, YMCA and Mordy Skate and Surf.

Before and after - Laura as a fuzzy pink gorilla

From there I was off to the Victorian closing event for National Youth Week, the Epic Youth Festival. Hosted by a range of youth groups including the Manningham Youth Social Action committee (check them out here in NYW Blog 6), the festival definitely lived up to its name - it was EPIC!

There were high-profile artists including House v Hurricane and 360, skating competitions, and I even saw Minister Smith (the Victorian Minister for Youth) hit the courts for a basketball game. And most importantly, the pink gorilla. You'll see from the pics that I got in on the fun too, jumping into the pink gorilla suit and generally spreading the feelgood vibes.

Highlights:

  • The giant inflatable slide at the Skate of Mind Festival
  • Shereen's amazing dance moves in the pink gorilla costume at the Epic Youth Festival (imagine a gorilla breakdancing!)
  • Rockin' out to the bands at the Epic Youth Festival ('cause it seemed fitting for me to mosh at both the opening and closing National Youth Week events)

Day ten - Sunday 10 April

Last day of National Youth Week and it was finally time for the juggling balls (though mine spent more time on the floor than in the air). Maribyrnong Council hosted a circus workshop for local young people to fine-tune their skills and realise their dreams of one day running away to the circus.

Take a picture, it'll last longer - the magical moment that the human pyramid came together

Unfortunately, the circus would probably run away from me because I soon discovered that not only do I not have the coordination for juggling, I am also too weak to be on the bottom of a human pyramid and too unbalanced to be on the top. This brilliant piece of photography captures the brief moment when we were actually able to balance our human pyramid.

Highlights:

  • Watching the other young people have a crack at stilt walking, but being too freaked out to try it myself
  • Juggling with two balls (I realise that this is technically just throwing and catching, but it was still a milestone for me)
  • Reacquainting myself with my old friend the hula hoop

Happy Youth Week!

So that's it! My ten days of youth lovin' during National Youth Week 2011. I like to think that we can keep the lovin' flowing post-Youth Week because there are still lots of ways for us to get involved in our communities and make a positive impact.

If you have any ideas or ways for young people to get involved, add me on Facebook (Laura Young Member (new window)).

For more articles about Community and activism, check out our Articles archive. For more about National Youth Week, check out www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/nyw.

Articles Written by Laura J

  • National Youth Week 2011 - Laura's Blog #1
  • NYW Blog #2 - Me, my Mum and Mother Theresa
  • NYW Blog #3 - Lights, camera, wave your hands!
  • NYW Blog #4 - You've got mail!
  • NYW blog #5 - Finding the "you" in Youth Week
  • NYW blog #6 - Giving credit where credit's due
  • NYW Blog 7 - 10 days of youth lovin' (Part 1)
  • NYW Blog #8 - 10 days of youth lovin' (Part 2)




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