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Budja Budja Youth Group attended Croc Fest 2005 in Swan Hill. 5 students from Stawell Secondary College 1 student from Pomonal Primary School and 1 student from Stawell 502 Primary School participated in Croc Fest ‘05.

The students were supported by 4 leaders, SSC Chaplin Moss Arnot, SSC Nurse Leonie Cowey, Budja Budja Chair Person Brendan Edwards and LenZone! Coordinator Geoff Wake. Over the two days the Budja Budja Crew participated in 9 work shops, that included a football work shop with former Essendon & Swans star Derek Kickett and current Essendon talent Nathan Lovett-Murray.

The first work shop attended was one of the most interesting titled “save-a-mate” (sam). Two young women from Australian Red Cross took us through helping peers when affected by alcohol and other drugs. The program covered the following topics: Substances - Classifications and effects, Recognising Risk Factors for Overdose/Emergencies, Recognising Signs and Symptoms of Overdose, Harm Minimisation and Prevention Strategies and Responding to Overdose (Prelude to First-Aid).

Other work shops on Wednesday included, AFL (Derek Kickett), Traditional Games, Questacon - Smart Moves and a drumming work shop called Play ’n’ Skins.

After a day of workshops we had a few hours off to take in the sights of Swan Hill. Then we had tea and settled in for an hour or so of entertainment from various school groups. The Croc Festival performances are similar to the Rock Eistedford Challenge with schools putting on an 8 minute performance with a brief explanation by two students from each school before they began their dance. We were impressed with the talent and in future festivals, who knows maybe the Budja Budja Crew will be up on stage.

On the Thursday morning former Wimbledon Champion Evone Goolagong-Cawley took us through our paces on the tennis court. The students were inspired by Evone who thought a couple of the Budja Budja crew had talent, and details were exchanged.

Hip HOPEration was the last session for the group. Two guys showed us how to put a Hip Hop track together. The aim of the workshop was to let students know that they have a voice and Hip Hop can provide a vehicle for that voice to be heard.

The next two work shops to attend before lunch included a Careers Market and a talk from Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) staff. The Careers Market provided students with information on pathways into further education training and employment. While the guys from DSE talked about how they manage fire, protect our parks and waterways and the wild life in them.

Hip HOPEration was the last session for the group. Two guys showed us how to put a Hip Hop track together. The aim of the workshop was to let students know that they have a voice and Hip Hop can provide a vehicle for that voice to be heard. We cut a track that will be sent at a later date for all to have a listen.

The Budja Budja youth group adventure to Swan Hill was a great experience inspiring both students and leaders. The festival was a great opportunity for students to improve skills and develop future goals. One of those goals (for the leaders) is to attend Croc Festival next year in Swan Hill or maybe Alice Springs who knows.