Swinging with the Stars dancers will hit the dancefloor on June 17 at The Barn to raise money for a great cause.
The annual Stand Like Stone gala charity fundraising event is the key fundraiser for the Stand Like Stone Foundation.
The fundraiser provides an important source of funding which keeps the community foundation operational along with raising a significant amount of funds that are used for important grants and scholarships across the Limestone Coast region.
Stand Like Stone chief executive Roger Babolka said the foundation was looking forward to another great event this year.
“Our fantastic Stars are definitely eager to get going and learn how to impress the judges on the dance floor,” Mr Babolka said.
“There’s no doubt that all the Stars for the 2023 event are very passionate about raising funds and awareness for the Foundation, and once again they’ll be under the expert tutelage of Kim Cella and the great team at Hype Dance.”
The 2023 Stars include:
Chicago Smith: A born and bred Kiwi who has now found that Penola is the perfect place to pause, as the Customer Service Manager at renowned Koonara Wines.
Chicago is looking forward to not only raising important funds for the Foundation, but equally looking forward to stepping outside her comfort zone.
This could be interesting, as Chicago has indicated that rhythm is not one of her strong points!
Don Pratt: A man of many talents, including a painter, a chef, a coffee guru and founder of the fantastic local organisation ‘Spare ya Change 4 Kids’, Don has a passion for supporting the region’s youth.
Some of you may also remember that Don was one of the original Mount Gambier ‘Full Monty’ crew that preformed in front of 400 locals a while back.
This Star may have an advantage or two on the other Stars, as clearly he’s not a shy man, and if he’s remembered some of his moves from his Full Monty days, he could be someone to keep an eye on.
Kellie Nobes: Local fashion stylist Kellie wants to step outside her comfort zone and give back to the community that has supported her in so many of ways over the years, and she sees being one of the Stars is the perfect way to achieve both.
However, according to Kellie she is the most un-coordinated and least fit person you’ll meet, and add in the couple of past hamstring injuries, just getting through the night without calling for the medic will be seen as a win for Kellie.
Kyle Tipene: An SSO at Mount Gambier North Primary School, Kyle is no stranger to the performing in front of crowds, and although he’s had a life-long passion playing competitive basketball, Swinging with the Stars takes it to another level.
Although, having two older sister’s dancing during most of his younger years and being part of a boy’s dance crew in back in his high school days, maybe some of that will give him the edge over the other Stars.
Supporting and raising money for a great cause was one of the main reasons for Kyle stepping up, and after speaking with some of the past Stars, he’s looking forward to the experience.
Luke Thomson: Manager of the Globe Hotel, Luke has taken up the challenge of raising money to provide greater opportunities for his community.
He’s a self-proclaimed social media star, often seen starring in the Globe Hotel’s Facebook videos.
It would appear that Luke is very competitive at everything he does, which will no doubt be obvious at the all-important dance lessons, and of course on the big night out at The Barn.
Nic Tubb: Moving to Mount Gambier last year as a drama teacher at Mount Gambier High, he decided to try out a few things he’d never done before.
One of them was a dance class for grown-ups, but Nic only went a few times.
However, when he heard about Swinging with the Stars, he loved the idea and after some (lots of) persuasion he decided to give it a go.
He says he signed up because being brave is something he always tells his students.
But for Nic, equally important was the fact that being a ‘Star’ was a way of giving back and showing love to the community that has been so quick to embrace him.
Olivia Magarey: A Safety and Compliance Assistant and Personal Assistant at Whitehaul Transport, Olivia wants to use her networking skills for this amazing opportunity and do something a little out of her comfort zone, but also have some fun.
A dancer with Hype in her early teen years, we’re thinking Olivia may be the one to watch, but we’ll just have to see what happens on the June 17.
A passion for assisting the team at Whitehaul Transport to kick goals, she is also completing her Diploma of Management and Leadership, so there’s no doubt that Olivia is a busy individual but she still has time to care about and promote body positivity and mental health awareness.
Liza Couzens: Principal at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Millicent, Liza is excited to have an opportunity to support Stand Like Stone with its philanthropic endeavours in the Limestone Coast.
In her role as a school leader, Liza believes it’s important to model work life balance by embracing opportunities (including the challenging ones), taking risks and looking after your health and fitness.
So, we think putting her hand up to be a Star in 2023 will certainly address all of that and probably more, and who knows, maybe at the end of the night Liza could score an A+ from the judges for her efforts.
“Swinging with the Stars really is an amazing event,” Mr Babolka said.
“Not only do our stars have a lot of fun raising money for their community, but they do so knowing the money they raise will have a positive and lasting impact for the people of the Limestone Coast for many years to come.”
Organisers are confident Swinging with the Stars 2023 will be a huge success once again and are expecting another sell-out show.
Tickets will go on sale soon.
Visit www.standlikestone.com.au for further information or to donate.
