From scarecrows to jump squats, online action teams rock
Isolation isn’t taking the action out of Local Drug Action Teams.
From Auburn to Kyabram and Nannup to Lockington, tiny towns and big city suburbs have been running full steam ahead with online activities to keep young people tuned in and switched on.
Keeping fit and getting creative across Australia
The fruit and dairy region of Campaspe, 200 km due north of Melbourne, is where you will find the tiny town of Lockington. Each year the population is boosted by a cohort of scarecrows organised by the local Youth Action Group.
Undeterred by the “Locky” lockdown, this year’s celebrity-themed scarecrows were stuffed, dressed and photographed for social media so people can vote for the winner online.
Nearby Kyabram moved its KyFit gym-based youth fitness program online. It has been keeping the kids busy doing pushups, side planks, jump squats and butt kicks at home. The weekly workout challenges gathered huge community support. Prizes added an extra incentive, but the biggest rewards have been in reducing home isolation stress and reaching fitness goals.
Taking it down a gear, the creative soul of picturesque Nannup, on WA’s Blackwood River, felt drawn to art. While the LDAT’s face-to-face Youth Zone had to close its doors, it adapted by running weekly online art workshops, organising free art supplies and posting a new activity each week on social media.
Isolation music video
Far across the country, in Sydney’s western suburbs, Auburn’s LDAT is channeling its inner rock star. It is challenging teens to video themselves dancing, for a chance to be included in a music video clip.
The video clip is for the song Turn It Around, which was written and recorded by six young participants from the Auburn Youth Sound Project LDAT at an online song writing workshop.
There’s no denying that when the curtain slowly rises, we will all be dancing in the streets.
Until then, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation acknowledges the generosity of spirit, the energy, commitment and innovation of LDAT teams across the country who are shining online.
