VOLLER PARTY PLEA
PROTESTER ASKS PUBLIC TO PAY FOR BIRTHDAY BASH
FORMER Don Dale detention centre detainee and “Stolenwealth Games” protester Dylan Voller is asking for donations for a treatment facility and to fund a starstudded birthday concert.
Mr Voller said that profits from the concert, which will mark his 21st birthday, will go towards the BushMob Aboriginal Corporation, a residential treatment facility based in Central Australia.
A GoFundMe account established by Mr Voller – who is facing a public nuisance charge and a charge for staging a bomb hoax during the Commonwealth Games, which he will defend – aims to raise $10,000 for the event, which promises “high profile’’ artists.
As of last night it had raised $830.
“I have had a lot of birthdays in incarceration, and these guys (BushMob) have changed my life, I wouldn’t be here without them,” Mr Voller said.
Mr Voller says he hopes to hold the public birthday bash in Sydney or Alice Springs in late September.
“It will be something for kids too, I’d just be happy even if one person rocked up, we will see how much we pull together,” he told The Gold Coast Bulletin.
On the event’s GoFundMe page Mr Voller details how the donations will be spent.
“The funds raised will be used in conjunction with creating a concert for my (Dylan Voller) 21st birthday and donating to the Bush Mob Aboriginal Corporation.”
Mr Voller says on the post he wants to raise money for BushMob “because they do terrific work and make changes and they helped me”.
Jock MacGregor from BushMob Aboriginal Corporation told the Bulletin he was not aware of the fundraising efforts or of any planned concert for Mr Voller’s birthday, but welcomed the idea.
“I am not aware of it, I haven’t heard from him in about six months,” Mr MacGregor said.
“If he does have a fundraiser for us, good on him, that is lovely.”
Donors to the GoFundMe account have left comments wishing Mr Voller well on his birthday.
“Wishing you a wonderful birthday. Stay strong in the fight and just keep on inspiring the way you do,” Janelle Cockerell wrote on the page.
“Hope you have an amazing birthday party Dylan, you deserve it,” Nicola Perry posted to the GoFundMe page.
Mr Voller became the public face of controversial youth detention practices in the Northern Territory in 2016 when images appeared of him hooded and restrained while in custody at Don Dale detention centre.
Mr Voller, who now lives in Sydney, is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court to face the charge relating to the Commonwealth Games bomb hoax this month.