Vibe Alive is back in 2009 with an array of talented guests, role models and patrons coming together to ensure that students across Australia have the time of their lives at Vibe Alive.
Vibe Alive is a two day festival for young Australians that incorporates music, sport, art, education and healthy living in a high-energy, youth-friendly setting. This youth festival with a difference offers students the chance to sing, dance, play, create and learn in an environment that allows them to express themselves, share their talents and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
In between all of this, students will learn about healthy living, explore career options and be challenged in literacy and numeracy activities. Vibe Alive is a complete round robin competition, with great prizes to be won.
Role models who’ll be joining in the fun include Australian Idol 2004 Casey Donovan, stars of So You Think You Can Dance? Sermsah “Suri” Bin Saad and Courtney Walter, talented actor Michael Tuahine, former Harlem Globetrotter Dwayne Cross, along with artist and comedian Kevin Kropinyeri.
These inspiring celebrities will be hanging out with the students, offering advice and encouragement and helping with the judging. There will also be a special performance or two!
Vibe Alive is also delighted to announce its 2009 patrons – Indigenous educator Chris Sarra and leading entertainment producer Kerrie Hayes.
Dr Chris Sarra is a leader in Indigenous education, pursuing improved educational outcomes for Indigenous children through engagement with principals, teachers, community leaders and Government. Chris is the Executive Director of the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute and enjoyed much acclaim as Principal of Cherbourg State School in South East Queensland where his Strong and Smart philosophy was born demanding higher expectations for Indigenous children. In 2004 he was awarded Queenslander of the Year and also received the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education.
“As Indigenous Australians we’ve had challenges in the past, but a stronger, smarter future is ours for the taking”, he says. Vibe Alive has the vision to create opportunities for Indigenous young people, enabling all to be to the best that they can be, making Chris the ideal choice for Patron.
Vibe Alive is also proud to have Kerrie Hayes as Patron for another year. Kerrie is one of Australia’s leading entertainment and event producers. Her record in the sporting arena is unsurpassed, producing major events for the Australian Football League, Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the Australian Rugby Union, Soccer Australia and Cricket Australia among many others.
A Sydney Teachers College graduate, Kerrie is a founding principal, producer and promoter of the National Rock Eisteddfod and says she is honoured to be a patron of Vibe Alive.
“I think the concept of Vibe Alive is outstanding,” she says. “Where else is there a competition that includes singing, dancing, painting, Indigenous cultural activities, and much more? Vibe Alive is an event where students can be the best they can be.”
The 2009 Vibe Alive festival season kicked off in Coonamble last month attracting more than 1100 students from across the state competing for the NSW Vibe Alive Cup which was won by the Bogan Bulls from Nyngan Public School. Registration is now open to compete at Vibe Alive in the following locations in 2009:
Mildura VIC – 29 & 30 July
Port Augusta SA – 5 & 6 August
Kalgoorlie WA – 12 & 13 August
Weipa QLD – 16 & 17 September
To ensure every school that wants to come along gets a chance to, no matter how far away from the festival site they live, Vibe Alive’s Principal Sponsor, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, is again offering funding support to assist with travel and accommodation costs. Assistance of $250,000 nationally is available. Detailed information about the festivals can be found at
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Pages/DepartmentSites.aspx and www.vibealive.com.au.
Vibe Alive would like to acknowledge the many organisations that are confirmed supporters of the 2009 festivals including DEEWR, Beyond Blue, National Rural Health Students Network, Office of Fair Trading NSW, Department of Education and Childhood Services SA, Equmen, Global Colours, Kellogg’s, Kerrie Hayes Productions, National Film & Sound Archive, SONY music, Macmillan Education, Koori Mail, Deadly Vibe & Deadly Sounds.
For all media enquiries, please contact Mayrah Butt at Vibe Australia on (02) 9361
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