A local ballerina, a healthy eating activist, some rock show enthusiasts and a group fundraising to feed the poor have all been nominated for the Victorian Young Achievers Award this year.
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Ballarat group Sonika FreeZa organise live music shows, providing a drug and alcohol free environment for young people to socialise. All events are run by young people and feature young artists but can enjoyed by anyone.
The group comes from a diverse background with one indigenous member, a LGBTI member, a member with a disability, plus others from isolated rural areas and low socio-economic backgrounds.
“We’re all about music” the Sonika Facebook page says.
Sonika host the Ballarat battle of the bands, have a stage at the Ballarat show and organise performances for the CFA fire relief pool party, Ballarat Laneways Festival, Tomorrow’s People and Harmony Fest.
One condition of their receiving funding from the state government was that Sonika must hold at least five events featuring 12 young local artists this year. So far they have held 14 events, featuring 102 performers and reached an audience attendance of 11,300 people.
You can even hear SONIKAir on 99.9fm from 5pm – 6pm saturday nights.
Sonika is the Ballarat arm of the state wide government initiative FreeZa, which is aimed at connecting young Victorians with their community and celebrate their culture in a safe and healthy way.
Sonika FreeZa have been nominated for the Victorian Government Group Achievement in the Community Award, which recognises young people who have worked together to bring about positive changes in their community.
The Ballarat Pathfinder organisation has also been nominated for the Group Achievement in the Community award for their massive effort to raise $3000 for the Ballarat Soup Bus.
The Pathfinder Club rode from Ballarat to Echuca this year to raise money for the charity, which feeds the needy.
Joining Sonika and The Pathfinder Club in their nominations is Delacombe teenager Sarah Perkins, a ballerina who has performed in Sleeping Beauty at the Melbourne Arts Centre.
She’s been nominated for The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award, which recognises creative energy and artistic drive in young people.
Rounding off the list is Rheannon Theologous-Owen, nominated for the Bart-N-Print Health and Wellbeing Award for her effort in changing the food culture at Dalesford Primary School to promote healthy eating.
The winners of the Victorian Young Achievers Award will be judged on Tuesday April 4 2017, with an award ceremony to be held Friday May 26.
