Youths party

Hundreds of young people were partying in the park on Thursday. Held at the Warragul Skate Park youths took the opportunity to compete in skate, scooter and BMX competitions. Other activities included street art, live music and a band competition.. Right: Aidyn Bourke shows some of his tricks during the scooter competition. Inset: Brothers Bodhi and Noah Pitt learned a few netball skills from Collingwood Mag-pies netball player Erin Bell. Photographs: MICHAEL ROBINSON

Organisers of the Baw Baw Youth Week party in the park have hailed the event a success, with the event engaging with more than 24,000 people on social media.

The event, targeted at young people aged between 15 to 24years-old, featured a range of activities, free giveaways, and prizes.

Held at the Warragul Skate Park on Thursday afternoon, youths took the opportunity to compete in skate, scooter and BMX competitions.

Other activities included street art, live music and a band competition, free barbecue, pancakes and football and netball activities.

Baw Baw Shire, Headspace, YMCA, Warragul Lions Club and other youth agencies and skate and scooter organisations combined to stage the event. Several youth agencies were also in attendance.

A spokesperson for Baw Baw Shire Council thanked all involved in bringing the event together.

“Of course, the event has been all about trying to engage with local youth, and in that regard the event was also very successful,” the spokesperson said.

“In ways we can measure, the youth survey received more than 200 responses, and Instagram and Twitter posts using the #BawBawYouthWeek hashtag achieved a reach of more than 17,000 people during the four hours of the event.

“The event also reached more than 7000 interactions on Facebook during the event for a total event-related reach of 24,345 people via Council’s social media channels.”

Declan McLachlan from Drouin Secondary College competed in the 15 and under scooter competition.

Olivia Thompson of Warragul, 2, puts the netball in the basket with a little help from her dad Niall.

Ashton Stafford and big brother Max Stafford from Warragul enjoy a game frisbee at Burke Street park.

Year eight student at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar Georgia Rutherford is pictured with her untitled painting. Georgia is from Yarragon and has attended one of the workshops offered by Fatcap Concepts aimed at identifying youth interested in art.

Students from Warragul Regional College performed cover versions for the large crowd in attendance. Pictured from left Lachlan Costello, Andee Long, Lana Watson and Logan Long.

There were a lot of showbags and giveaways at the party in the park on Thursday evening,. Max Saxton, 18 months, and Owen Saxton, 3, of Yarragon were excited to see what was in their bags.

Some of the event organisers included Deb Hamilton-Bean (Berry Street), Eamon O’Hare (school focussed youth services), Jenni Graham (Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN), Tahseen Qadeer and Calum Douglas (Baw Baw Shire).

Having plenty of fun with the handball are, from left Shelby Davis, Chloe Davis, Damien Davis, Angie Davis and Mark Davis.

Enjoying the music and happy to ham it up for the camera are Jye Burton and Eilidh Purton, both from Warragul Regional College.

Five-year-old Hunter Gibson of Warragul holds on tight as he is bounced around in the bubble ball battles at Burke Street park as part of Victorian youth week celebrations.

Lexi Turner from Warragul Regional College chose to use paint and brushes to create her street art mural at party in the park.

Paul Van Dord of Warragul enjoyed the drumming workshop as part of Victorian Youth Week party in the park.