Girls from Bidyadanga and Halls Creek travel to Melbourne to perform on national stage

Sixteen girls from the Kimberley travelled to Melbourne to sing on the national stage with 600 other choir girls at the National Gallery of Victoria last week. The trip was part of the Girls from Oz Travel Program where girls from remote communities in WA and far North Queensland sing with the Australian Girls Choir at their annual concert from November 10 to 12. This year 16 girls aged 11 to 16 from Bidyadanga and Halls Creek flew to Melbourne with 18 other girls from across WA and Queensland to participate in a range of educational activities as well as perform on the big stage. For 11-year-old Ebonaii-Sym Bennett from the small remote community of Bidyadanga it was her first time travelling outside of WA. “I really like it in Melbourne and the big houses,” Ebonaii-Sym said. “It was really scary but also fun at the same time. Hearing all the girls on stage and seeing them on the big screen made me feel nervous but I am glad that I was brave, and I did it.” “It was fun making new friends and singing. I felt brave when I was there and learning new songs and dance moves.” Girls from Oz chair Nicole Muir AM said the program aimed to inspire the young women to dream big for their future. “We aim to spark imagination in these young women about what they might be when they grow up,” she said. “In one week, they are exposed to an incredible range of people and experiences that we hope will inspire them to remain engaged at school and strive to be successful. “These opportunities aren’t available in their hometowns, and we know the lasting benefits of eye-opening experiences in this impressionable age group.” Since 2010, the Girls from Oz program has run 117 week-long community programs, engaging more than 4000 girls across five communities with more than 180 taking part in 13 Travel Programs to five capital cities for a week of shared cultural exchange.