Community & Business
22 July, 2021
Domadgee keeps their fairy tale alive
When Doomadgee’s own Cinderella ball was cancelled, the fairy godmother behind the big event, Yolonde Entsch and the NAIDOC Committee made a special fashion parade.
BY ELLIE FINK
When Doomadgee’s own Cinderella ball was cancelled, the fairy godmother behind the big event, Yolonde Entsch and the NAIDOC Committee made a special fashion parade.
After months of excitement, preparation and thousands of dresses being donated from every corner of Australia, the decision to cancel the “Under the Stars” NAIDOC Ball was one that didn’t come lightly.
Yolonde made the announcement to Doomadgee and the wider community via Facebook, after being given advice by Queensland Health.
“Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of this community and with many people already suffering from respiratory issues, nobody wanted to run the risk of bringing COVID to Doomadgee,” she said.
“Also, given the nature of life in the community, it would have been impossible to ask people to dance 1.5 metres apart, especially when this community was so excited to have a Ball with a band from Cairns.”
She has worked alongside the community of Doomadgee for years and has spent the past few months organising this ball.
Her compassionate cry for formal wear donations was seen across the country and even parts of the United States, England and Canada.
She knew though that she couldn’t leave the community she was so passionate about without a night of fun under the stars.
“Having seen how excited the women of Doomadgee were to choose a gown and get dressed up, I couldn’t leave without them enjoying a night of glitz and glamour, so we decided to have a fashion parade,” she said.
“What I also loved was that a number of little girls got dressed up and walked the runaway with many members of the community coming to watch.”
Doomadgee local Maria Mick said that the runway show was an amazing event for her small community, especially her daughter.
“I loved seeing all the girls and elderly ladies getting all dressed up and professional for once because I am used to the only dressing up being in black and white for funerals,” she said.
“My daughter, Destiny, had an absolute ball and she was even able to dance with a boy for the first time.
“I am really looking forward to having a bigger and better ball soon.”
The Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council alongside Yolonde and NAIDOC Organising Committee will work together in hopes to give the town of Doomadgee the Cinderella story they have been dreaming for.
