THIS is not investigative or experiential journalism. The Courier's Rochelle Kirkham has spent a lot of time working with the community's frontline welfare and social justice experts on the big issues facing Ballarat.
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To put her name on the dance card is a different way for Ms Kirkham to tell a story, raise awareness and make a difference.
Ms Kirkham is quickstepping up to contest next week's highly anticipated Dancing With Our Stars, the gala fundraiser for The Ballarat Foundation.
"We work a lot within the community and I have gained a deeper understanding of what drives disadvantage in this town. The Ballarat Foundation works hard to break those cycles of disadvantage," Ms Kirkham said.
It's such a physical challenge. I like exercise a lot but my body doesn't move that gracefully.
- Rochelle Kirkham
The lead-up experience has already pushed Ms Kirkham out of her comfort zone in event organising and promotion, including self-promotion, for her key fundraising event Business With Our Stars. More used to being the person reporting on such events, Ms Kirkham said her focus was all about the cause. Ms Kirkham was humbled by the business community's strong support.
In a panel event, Ms Kirkham hosted Sovereign Hill chief Sara Quon, McGrath Ballarat co-director Sean Toohey and Munash Organics director Bec Djordjevic to talk about business culture, growth and marketing.
The event raised almost $3000 for Ms Kirkham's dance campaign.
Ms Kirkham is one of 10 community identities in contention for the coveted Dancing With Our Stars crowns.
MORE DANCING INSPIRATION:
- Toastie guru Tim Bone turns up heat on dance mission
- Daniel Nestor's nearly ready to rumba out of comfort zone
- Paula Nicholson's determination in dance - she has the marks to prove it
- Anita Godfrey makes flying start to dance preparation
- Alicia is auctioning off her staff to fuel her dance campaign
- Danielle finds renewed purpose to her dance
- Kevin Vanderkley's 'hip' moves to go on show on dance floor
- Rob Croucher is waltzing into Dancing with Our Stars in a Latino twist
For Ms Kirkham, who enjoys taking up a variety of high-intensity sports, dancing the quickstep was proving a whole different type of challenging work-out. The closest she had tasted to organised dancing before was Zumba in the gym.
"It's such a physical challenge. I like exercise a lot but my body doesn't move that gracefully," Ms Kirkham said.
"My dance partner Rob (Powell) has been pretty patient and we have a lot of laughs with Shelley Ross at The Dance Studio. Both laugh at me and I love that - I like to laugh at myself.
"...I keep talking when I'm dancing...they keep telling me to stop because we sometimes miss a bit and fall behind in the music."
Ms Kirkham said it was great to catch up with other dancers in the group dance lessons. She was excited to see how their routines were progressing.
The popular weekly trivia night at The Mallow will tonight support Ms Kirkham's campaign. Dancing With Our Stars returns in a live-streamed event from Civic Hall on March 20. To support Ms Kirkham, visit dancing-with-our-stars.raisely.com/rochelle-kirkham.
