Twerking to fght prostate cancer

SAMANTHA ELLEY

It is not only men who are joining in Movember this month to raise funds to fght prostate cancer.

For the last 10 years t exhibitions, music, dance and theatre performances, open studios, artist trails or creative workshops for all ages are encouraged to register before Monday, January 6 to be included in the festival program.

Organisers of the Clarence Valley’s next year’s celebration of all things creative, the annual Plunge Festival, are calling for entries from cultural businesses, and organisations.

The 2025 festival will run from March 29 through to April 30 and promotion is free for organisations based in the Clarence Valley.

The Program will be released early February online and distributed through Clarence Valley Council offces, libraries, and galleries as well as arts and cultural businesses and organisations throughout the region.

Clarence Valley Mayor Ray Smith said he is excited to see what will be on offer for the 2025 program.

“The Plunge program highlights the best of what our region has to offer for locals and visitors who want to try something creative or take in a show or performance,” said Cr Smith.

“I’d like to encourage members of the arts & culture sector to take part and showcase the creativity that exists in the Clarence Valley.”

Clarence Valley Council is pleased to support the Plunge Arts & Culture Festival and assist the growth of our cultural economy.

Since 2013 more than 2000 events have been promoted through the festival program.

The creative arts are a powerful tool for social engagement and connection for our region.

Arts and Culture projects share the stories about where we live and who we are, addressing some of the most pressing challenges we face today.

They also bring people together and are a critical element for building and maintaining our community networks.

Register your event via the Clarence Valley Council Website.

Shai Lawrence has been a ‘Mo Sister’ and will be putting on a big event this year to reach her goal of $10,000 since she started.

“My goal this year is $2,485 as that will take me to $10,000 in total that I’ve raised for Movember,” she said.

“It’s a huge milestone and I never thought in a million years I could do that solo.

“Being female raising money for a men’s charity is a little more diffcult as I kept it quite female focused.”

Now, with the support of local businesses Shai is holding a raffe with some great prizes.

“There are four prize packs with a total of donations being $3,000,” she said.

“Then on November 30 I will be holding a ‘mini’ charity event which is very dance focused.

“We will start with a bit of breathwork and meditation on the beach, then relocate to the Lennox Cultural Centre with some dance workshops.”

The dance workshops will include contemporary movement and a ‘twerkshop’.

Shai’s motivation for working so hard to raise money for prostate cancer can be found in her relationship with the men in her family.

“An amazing man I called Poppa David passed away from prostate cancer in 2003,” she explained in her Movember donation space.

“A few months later, my ‘old pop’ (greatgrandfather) also passed from prostate cancer.

“At the start of 2023 my dad…had a prostate cancer scare and my uncle, in the say year, had his prostate removed, so this charity means a whole lot to me and my family.”