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Hargreaves Mall will be the setting for a debutante ball in December, as Bendigo traders and young people seek to reclaim the shopping strip from unruly visitors.
The Ball in the Mall is an initiative of mall traders, the City of Greater Bendigo, Victoria Police and young people.
The event follows reports about antisocial behaviour in the shopping precinct.
In a written statement, event spokeswoman Haylee Kennedy said the collaboration was “[making] a positive difference” in the lives of all the mall’s stakeholders, including young people.
“This will give the community a chance to provide the youth with an event to participate in that they may never have had the opportunity to,” she said.
Organisers are now seeking support from businesses, schools and community groups to make over the mall, its debutantes and their dates.
Men’s suits, debutante gowns, cars to chauffeur the debutantes and dance instructors are all being requested.
Help with audiovisual elements, social media and photography are also on the working group’s wishlist.
Formal clothes have previously been used as a tool to transform the mindsets of young people, with mall traders dressing up the city’s youth in preparation for job interviews.
“Once dressed in a shirt, tie, trousers and shoes, it was evident the positive transformation that took place both physically and emotionally,” Ms Kennedy said.
More to come.