NEWS Putting on the ritz for Doomadgee
PEOPLE across the globe are determined to make Doomadgee’s NAIDOC ball the most glamorous the Indigenous community has ever seen.
Participants will be fitted in donated ball gowns, makeup and even new tuxedos.
Empowering Women Empowering Communities founder Yolonde Entsch said it was an unprecedented opportunity for the community to dress up.
“So many of us have gowns and suits and shoes in our wardrobes that we know we’re not going to wear … I knew if I put a call out to the Cairns community that people would donate things,” she said.
However, it’s not just the Cairns community that has expressed interest in donating formal wear.
Mrs Entsch said she’d been contacted by a student at the University of Sydney, a woman from Penguin in Tasmania, and even people from the US.
“Celebrity stylist Dale McKie from Sydney … he styles people like Guy Sebastian and he is volunteering his time and his own expense to come to Doomadgee on the night,” she said.
Mrs Entsch said the stylist would help the Doomadgee people “feel gorgeous” on the evening of the ball.
She said she hoped this inspired other communities to do a similar thing which would put the excess donations to good use.
Doomadgee Strong Women’s Group chairwoman Elaine Cairns said the donations would make the community “shine”.
“With these girls having their dresses fitted and their hair done and nails done, it’s gonna give them back their self esteem … and make them know that people care about them,” she said.
Ms Cairns said she had goosebumps when she heard about the offers from people all around the world.
“The community is really happy about it, it’s wonderful that something like that is gonna happen,” she said. “It’s the best thing that’s happened in Doomadgee.”
Doomadgee woman Tennisha Walden said the girls were most excited for “the dresses we’re gonna wear”.
“I saw all the comments … I couldn’t believe it,” she said.
Donations can be posted to Yolonde Entsch at P.O Box 14, Bungalow, 4870 or left at the Women’s Yarning Place at Manoora.
The ball is on July 8.