YOUTH WEEK 2021
Outstanding Walgett Shire Youth Week 2021!
National Youth Week (NYW) which this year was staged in our Shire from the 6th to the 23rd April is an important event for youth services and most importantly our young people as it is the largest celebration of young people across Australia, with thousands of young people aged 12-25 involved each year.
The Walgett Shire Youth and Community Development Team planned all year, working in partnership with the Youth Council and service providers to improve all outcomes for the 2021 program. With the COVID -19 situation last year restricting and impacting delivery of this program the youth team and our young people set out to deliver events that would engage and connect our young people like never before.
Walgett Shire Council, having been awarded winners in numerous categories of the State Local Government Youth Week Awards consistently for the past (13) thirteen years, along with an increased number of partners offered our youth and young people an amazing three weeks (simply because we can’t fit it all in one week) of entertainment opportunities and excitement to be remembered focusing on the theme “Together more than Ever”.
The 2021 program recorded 2865 participants an average of 66 youth and young people attending 43 different programs and initiatives spread across the Walgett Shire. Under the direction of the young people attending our centres and input from Youth Council representative’s fresh and new ideas has allowed for these outstanding outcomes with support by Councils Youth and Community Development teams, Libraries, local, regional and state organisations, agencies and individuals. The events staged include, Dance parties, cook ups, minute to win it competitions, music and talent workshops, wood art, repurposing, sporting events, competitions, traditional Korean dance and martial arts performances (troop of 31 members) and three “Spirit of Place Performers in the Parks Festivals”. The partnership event with WAMS 35th year anniversary recorded huge numbers of participation and offered a broad variety of entertainment, information and opportunities. Renown performers entertained youth and community to fun filled events featuring ‘JustUs’, acclaimed rapper Dobby, Kelsey Iris, PCYC girls dance group, Roger Knox, Loren Ryan, Didge from the Ridge(Josh McCormick), Under the Weather, Chris Hunt and our long supporters the Korean JITA youth church group also performed throughout the Shire.
Walgett Shire Council General Manager Mr Mike Urquhart said the youth and young people are to be congratulated “I am impressed that such a high standard of delivery towards youth week has yet again sustained itself. Program and resource sharing with local services focusing on young people has again proved to be a winner. Mr Urquhart made special mention of the Council’s youth & community development team members and local services for the dedication shown by all to create such an outstanding outcome.
Council’s Youth Development Officer Sandra Bladen said “we have amazingly recorded our highest number of youth participation to date and couldn’t be happier with the result”. The support for Walgett shire youth week’s 2021 has been welcomed with 21 twenty-one local, regional and State organisations again supporting the youth and young people of the Walgett Shire with activities and events offering and building capacity of our young people, showcasing their talents, skills and celebrating the important role in which they play in our communities and futures.
Local Youth Council reps stated they had “an amazing unforgettable fun and enjoyable two weeks”. Manager Community Development Mr George McCormick said “Youth Week programs continue to be the “time for youth to shine and shine they did”. Youth and young people are encouraged to have input into decisions that affect them, creating opportunities that aligns with Council’s Community Strategic Plan 2017-2027. “We could not be happier with the outstanding response, engagement and appreciation of the entire three week program and it goes without saying that without the support of other services we could never achieve delivery of the quality programs and amazing statistics on participation that we have, a huge shout out to all involved.”
For further information please contact:
Sandra Bladen – Youth Development Officer – 0268286126- youthdevelopment@walgett.nsw.gov.au
George McCormick -Manager Community Development – 0439024902 gmccormick@walgett.nsw.gov.au
