Young people in rural communities are declining but Beaut Blokes faces the axe!

Ange Newton,from tiny Harrow in Western Victoria, a winner of one the five 2004 Alcoa Regional Achievers Awards and founder of the Beaut Blokes Weekend is frustrated and angry that a very successful event encouraging young people to visit and/or remain in rural areas will wind up in August.

Her party weekends that invite city-based girls for a stay in the country are a fun way of looking at the rural drift to the city, at farm succession and depression in rural males.

Harrow has run out of beaut blokes so Ange and her volunteers have achieved their original goal. The event has spread to neighbouring Ouyen and to Western Australia and communities in Gippsland and South Australia want to run events, but, working from a volunteer base and not being able to attract support, it has grown too big to look after. Ange and helper Sarah have said ‘enough’s enough’ specifically because of:

(1) No support from Government;

(2) Big rural organisations /companies have not looked seriously at the event in relation to the problem and been prepared to put something back into the community they rely on;

(3) Local hospitals, schools and allied health facilities have not taken up the challenge to create places for young women wanting to move to rural areas.

Any ideas? Contact Ange – admin@beautblokes.com.au