This ball is designed to ensure that people of all abilities can participate in the traditional debutante experience.
A similar ball had been running for years until being forced to stop due to COVID-19, but has been recently reignited.
The event is not solely focused on providing an opportunity to people with a disability to participate, but also gives a chance to their paired partner to learn about the person they are supporting, and what life looks like when you have a disability.
“They will build up a rapport over the seven weeks together,” event organiser Jacqui Wegener said.
“It’s really quite special to see the connections that are made in that time.”
The participants and their partners will meet and rehearse the presentations for the night, as well as meeting once a week for seven weeks leading up to the event to meet and learn the dances at RivADance studio in Echuca.
The ball will have a theme of Hollywood and have an array of presentations before the night turns into a celebration, and the debutantes and their partners take to the dance floor, which will then open up to families as well.
Ms Wegener said community inclusion was the main motif of the event.
“It doesn’t matter in what capacity they want to be involved,” she said.
“They could be a debutante, a partner, a hair salon or a makeup artist, or someone who has got a deb dress that they would like to lend to somebody for the night.
“There’s just so many ways that people can get involved, and I think everyone's looking to have that community connection.”
The group has already received donations of red carpets to fit the Hollywood theme, as well as a hefty donation from the Shine Bright Community Thrift Shop Echuca, who generously donated $2000 to help cover expenses through the ball’s GoFundMe page.
“Anyone who wants to be a part of it can certainly get in contact with us so that we can find them a job or find them a place somewhere within the event,” Ms Wegener said.
“We are always looking for volunteers. We wouldn’t say no to anyone.”
The event also caters to those who would like to make their debut but haven't had the financial means to do so before.
Currently, Ms Wegener and her committee are waiting for numbers on participants so they can go ahead and finalise a venue. Registrations are now open.
Contact Ms Wegener on 0409 227 800 or at eminclusion@gmail.com and donate to the gofundme at tinyurl.com/4rt3k3cb
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