It’s all happening at Pambula Beach this Saturday with an event organised by HeadSpace. Photo: File.
Organisers of an event designed to bring the Bega Valley’s youth together are calling on the community to head to Pambula Beach.
Headspace Bega community engagement officer Carly McDonald said she was proud of the work the Youth Reference Group (YRG) had put into organising Beats by the Beach.
“They just know how important events like this are, with this social connection, bringing people together, and they made it happen, so hats off to them!”
On 1 April (Saturday), Beats by the Beach will start with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country at Discovery Parks, Pambula Beach at 1:30 pm, before an open mic competition starts at 2 pm.
There are about 14 young artists aged 12-25 set to compete for a $500 prize.
The winner will be determined by a panel of three judges, two of whom work for the Wanderer Festival.
“They’re actually on the lookout for local talent to perform at this year’s Wanderer Festival.”
Additionally, there will be several live performances by a boy band, two First Nations women who will sing in their traditional language, and Felicity Dowd.
Those who register their attendance in advance will receive a free entry into the raffle, though extra tickets are available for purchase.
The raffle prizes have been donated by businesses from the Bega Valley, and the money raised through the raffle will be passed on to the YRG for use in their work and future events.
R U OK?, Community Drug Action Teams and Bega Valley Shire Council will be present on the day, along with food prepared by local restaurant Aqua.
Beats by the Beach is a fundraiser and a chance for young people to come together at the same time. Graphic: headspace Bega/Facebook.
Art will also have its time in the Pambula Beach sun, as some young individuals will have their art exhibited and some art will be for sale.
Beats by the Beach will be an alcohol-free event.
The YRG should be acknowledged for their hard work, said Ms McDonald.
“They have been working their butts off and been super inspiring.”
Ms McDonald said that while the event had been organised by the Youth Reference Group, it was open to anyone looking to support the Bega Valley’s young community.
“It just shows, chatting to young people, they want different things to do in the community and they just want spaces that are theirs.
“This space, they’ve set it up to be a celebration of youth – and that’s not to say that this is an event just for young people, it’s for everyone in the community to celebrate young people in our communities.”
The group consists of young people aged 16-25, who meet fortnightly to provide a youth perspective on headspace’s operations and to come up with events and projects.
Beats by the Beach was first run in 2022 and feedback from that event encouraged the event’s return for a second year.
“That was a bit of feedback from young people, where these one-off events happen, and they never happen again.”
Entry to Beats by the Beach is free, though participants can register in advance via Humanitix.
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