All dressed up: Berry Street DEB Ball attendees.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Students from the Berry Street School and the Youth Foyer let down their hair in a night that memories are made of.
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Growing up can be tough, but for the students and young people at Berry Street School and the Youth Foyer it was time to forget all that as they suited and gowned up for the Berry Street DEB Ball.
Held at the Goulburn Valley Hotel, the event was made possible by Berry Street employees who had volunteered their time, along with the assistance of numerous companies who provided dresses, tuxedos, food, venue, and hair and makeup services free of charge.
Hitting the dance floor: DEB attendees put their best feet forward.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The ball had been in the pipeline for four months, with Greater Shepparton Connected Communities being the major sponsor.
Many of the ball’s attendees have grown up in challenging circumstances and for some it was their first opportunity to dress up and enjoy such an event.
It was also a chance for them to celebrate their own personal successes and accomplishments.
In recognition of this, ‘DEB’ was an acronym.
Usually meaning ‘debutante’, the three letters were changed to stand for ‘Deserving Empowering Believing’.
Berry Street leader of wellbeing Troy Snelling believes the ball gives disadvantaged kids the same opportunities that other young people enjoy, as well as giving them confidence in public.
Dressed to impress: Attendees in their tuxes pose for the camera.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“Dancing is a great way to break down barriers and build self-esteem. I hope that the kids on the night both enjoy and learn about themselves,” Mr Snelling said.
To help build their confidence, attendees have been involved in dance classes.
On the night they danced several dances, including the Evening Three Step, the Bus Stop, the Hustle and a tango.
As preparations were under way for the night’s events, the emotions were palpable, and the excitement and nervousness evident.
One of the attendees, Keith, said he was looking forward to being able to dance and have fun, noting that dancing in such a setting was new to him.
Kelsey, another attendee, was both excited and nervous.
“There’s always going to be the nervous feeling of messing up the dance,” she said.
This was the second ever Berry Street DEB Ball, with the first being held in 2018. They are planned for every two years but COVID-19 prevented the 2020 event being held.
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