Stand Like Stone the real winner

Kellie Nobes claims winner’s trophy & foundation adds more than $110,000 to its coffers

The lead into the Swinging with the Stars gala performance earlier this month was less than ideal for Kellie Nobes and her dance partner Jayden Green (pictured far right) but the duo outlasted the field to be crowned the 2023 champions.

“Two weeks before the event my son and I were both really unwell so unfortunately meant minimal practices, so I began to feel quite stressed, but then the week of the event came around and Jayden and I really knuckled down and worked on our dances, so on Saturday night I was actually really excited and happy to get into the dancing,” Kellie said. “I was so lucky to have Jayden as a partner as he really stepped up when I needed it and squeezed in extra rehearsals whenever I began to feel overwhelmed. He is the best, and this was his fifth year doing it, so I’m glad I could be involved in his win.”

Of course, the real winner was the Stand Like Stone Foundation with another $110,000-plus added to the foundation’s coffers courtesy of the fundraising efforts of the eight ‘stars’ – Chicago Smith heading that field as the fundraising champion and winner of the People’s Choice Award thanks to singlehandedly raising almost $25,000.

Stand Like Stone Foundation CEO Roger Babolka said he was grateful for the community for getting behind the ‘stars’ and the event.

“The money raised from the night, and of course the fundraising activities held by the Stars over the last few months, assists the

CLASS OF 2023 foundation in providing a critical range of community support across the region,” Mr Babolka said. “We are so proud of our community and simply can’t thank everyone enough.”

• Chicago Smith: Customer service manager at Koonara Wines raised funds for her local community through the Penola/ Coonawarra Wellbeing Sub Fund.

• Don Pratt: Founder of the fantastic local organisation ‘Spare ya Change 4 Kids’ raised funds for the Focis on Youth Sub Fund.

• Kellie Nobes: Looking to give back to the community that has supported her, Kellie raised funds for the Agri Links mental health sub fund and the Stand Like Stone General Sub Fund.

• Kyle Tipene: Owner and basketball skills trainer of KT Hoops raised funds for the Stand Like Stone General Sub Fund.

• Luke Thomson: Manager at The Globe Hotel raised funds for the Stand Like Stone General Sub Fund.

• Nic Tubb: The Mount Gambier High School drama teacher has raised funds for the Mount Gambier High School Scholarship Sub Fund.

• Liza Couzens: Millicent’s St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School principal raised funds for Stand Like Stone’s Barrie Holmes Memorial Sub Fund.

• Olivia Magarey: Raising funds for Stand Like Stone’s General Sub Fund was the goal for this Whitehaul Transport personal assistant.

Almost 600 people packed The Barn to support the ‘stars’ and the cause – the gala performance a culmination of months of rehearsals to showcase three dance routines perfected under the tutelage of Kim Cella and Jazmyn Bowd from Hype Dance.

“Kim Cella has again choreographed the dances for the night, and I think everyone was blown away with the standard of the three routines this year, with the judges finding it very difficult to decide,” Mr Babolka said.

“The eight stars and their dancing partners are truly amazing and it’s fantastic to be part of their journey as they learn the three routines in just 12 weeks, perform in front of more than 570 people, all while raising funds for their community.

“It takes very special people to do that, and we can’t thank them enough.”

The ‘stars’ in turn are also thankful for the experience with Kellie highly recommending people get involved, despite admitting she was quite hesitant when first approached to be a part of the 2023 alumni.

“I was reluctant to say yes to begin with, as I knew it would be time-consuming and challenging, however it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life,” she said. “It really is an amazing event to be involved in, I am so glad I didn’t turn the opportunity down.”

There was, of course, the inevitable nerves, once the June 17 performance came around but Kellie can hand on heart say, even being in the spotlight was just another aspect of what was such an enjoyable experience.

“For our first dance of the swing I felt great and wasn’t nervous at all and it was lots of fun, then we got changed for the tango and I became very nervous as this was the dance I felt I struggled with the most,” she said. “For the hip hop I felt like I got back on track but then when we were announced top four and then top two my nerves really kicked in as it definitely felt like more eyes were on us.

“Walking out for the final two dance I thought I was going to faint and couldn’t stop shaking, I was completely exhausted and rolled both my ankles in the first few minutes of the routine so that added to the nerves.

“After how nervous I felt and the mistakes I’d made it was honestly a complete genuine shock to win, I really thought I’d blown it.”

But she hadn’t, adding her name to the Swinging with the Stars honour roll that dates back to 2008.

One of the newer innovations to the event is the advent of hip hop as one of the chosen dances and for Kellie, this was the highlight of the evening.

“The hip hop was so much fun to perform and it felt like everyone had relaxed by the time we got on stage for that routine,” she said. “It also got the crowd excited and everyone was cheering so loud.

I still remember looking out and everyone was clapping along to the music and smiling, so it felt like the crowd favourite too.”

Having support in the crowd also helped with some family and friends travelling to secure a front row seat to Kellie’s eventual victory.

“My husband was also there and it felt great to have him see what I’d been working so hard on for three months,” Kellie said. “My beautiful friend Alex also made posters and pom-poms so I really felt supported on the night by everyone who came to watch. I also had strangers coming up to me afterwards to congratulate me, which just goes to show the amazing and thoughtful community we live in.”