Council to support Murbah Youth Fest
06 April 2023
The Tweed is getting a bumper new youth festival thanks to a group of local young people who make up the Murwillumbah Youth Action Group.
In the lead up to Youth Week which will run from 20 – 30 April, the group have been busily preparing Murbah Youth Fest, a huge community event set to take place on Saturday 29 April.
The event will kick off in Knox Park, Murwillumbah from 10 am - 3 pm.
The group of young people behind the festival have been involved in almost all aspects of its planning- they have done everything from creating posters, choosing activities for the day, to designing event marketing.
The event is set to have a chill out zone and wellbeing area, a creative section that includes a Youth Creative Market, spoken word and poetry and physical activities such as giant Jenga and bubble soccer (imagine being encased in a giant protective bubble as you play soccer).
The festival will also highlight a range of local talents with a Battle of the Bands and a talent quest.
The Youth Action Group meet on Mondays and Thursdays at the Murwillumbah Youth Centre as part of a unique after school activity program.
This free program aims to offer training across a range of areas to young people aged 12 – 24 who can then go on to use their experience towards school credits. For instance, Jye, who has been part of the stage management group of the festival, is using his experience with the group to go towards his Entertainment studies. He is also excited about hosting parts of the event, meaning fighting his nerves and getting up on stage to introduce the various acts and activities on the day.
“I get stage fright, but it is good for me. It will help me get better at it,” he said.
Mayaluna and Tahlia, who are also part of the group are busily working on posters for the event, using vibrant colours and lots of laughter as they go. Proof that a little hard work need not be boring.
Arjan, a natural creative, is helping organise the Youth Creative Market. He will be selling his own creative work at the event. In his spare time, he explains, he enjoys blacksmithing and ring making. He also uses spray paint to design little tech decks.
Beyond organising huge local youth festivals, the Youth Action Group has other important functions. Through fun activities such as games, computers, and creative projects, it aims to welcome any young people to connect in a safe and nurturing space so that they can make connections in a welcoming environment and feel part of their community.
Another aspect of the Group is its Youth Mentor program. This program uses mentors from the community to help support group members, with a focus on harm minimisation and boosting mental health through clear pathways to other services such as Headspace.
Current youth mentor, Kalindi, is overseeing the design and tech aspects of the Group’s upcoming festival. She says it is a rewarding experience and has enjoyed every minute of it.
NSW Youth Week gives young people the opportunity to express themselves and the issues that affect them. The week will see a range of events and activities for and arranged by young people in the Tweed.
If you are interested in the Youth Action Group or becoming a youth mentor, please contact Christina Bennett, Youth Worker at Murwillumbah Community Centre on 02 6672 3003 or 0481 982 068 for more information.
If you or someone you know would like to enter the Murbah Fest Battle of the Bands or Talent Quest, please contact Christina as above.
For more information on Murbah Youth Festival, please follow @murbahyouth2484 on Instagram.
Murbah Youth Fest is part of the Murwillumbah Youth Action Project, funded by the Department of Communities and Justice Opportunities grant.
Council proudly supports the Murbah Youth Fest as it gives our young people and opportunity to thrive.