The PLACE Community Roadshow & Listening Tour rolled into Toormina, and what a whirlwind morning it turned out to be! Becoming U was proud to share stories, spark connections, and welcome the powerful presence of people who understand the importance of place-based initiatives. From the very start, there was a buzz in the air, equal parts curiosity and excitement, as we welcomed Andrew and Tess from PLACE and took them on a tour of our hometown.
Let the Tour Begin!
We kicked off the tour at William Bayldon Public School in Toormina, where introductions were made and plenty of smiles were shared before we hopped on the bus. It didn’t take long for conversations to start flowing naturally, everyone brought something unique and there was a real sense of shared purpose from the outset.
BBYC Young people Maleeah Ferrier, Darntelle Dickson, Arlo Smith, and Hamish Moore acted as local ‘tour guides’. They were joined by Connor Bryant, a BBYC Community member, Jess Miller, Linda Barach, Tess, and Andrew from PLACE.
Our first stop was Mission Cross Fit, where the PLACE team met Jamie Syme, the business owner, and Kev from Abcare. Cylie Brown and Jared from Mission Australia’s Transition To Work team discussed how last year’s Move It Project transitioned into this program, now with amazing partners Abcare, Police, Youth on Track, and Youth Justice.
Next, we headed over to Grow the Music. There, we were treated to a studio tour and some live music, and we engaged in thoughtful discussions about creative youth projects and what’s possible when music and mentorship come together. The team met with Lizzy Rutten, founder of Grow the Music and also an original BBYC member (originally Project Advisory group), met with youth participants, and showcased music written and recorded by young people. The group discussed past projects such as Birrugan Bros, and future projects, i.e. Bongil Bongil Creators Maleeah Ferrier and Darntelle Dickson.
The tour wrapped up with morning tea back at William Bayldon Public School. Jess Miller, Becoming U’s Community Impact Coordinator, spoke about how place-based initiatives have benefited Toormina. Morning tea brought together a diverse group of community members, including Becoming U Community Connectors Arli Fender-Barnett and Steph Kezic, William Bayldon Public School staff, Bongil Bongil Community of Schools principals, local business owners and project collaborators Carla Jones and Lizzy Rutten, Coffs Harbour City Councillor Cath Fowler, BBYC members Connor Bryant and Cylie Brown, Mission Australia staff, and Uniting team members, young people Darntelle Dickson, Hamish Moore, Arlo Smith, and Maleeah Ferrier. It was a powerful moment of coming together to speak about our beautiful community, share more about Becoming U and the Bongil Bongil Youth Collective, and learn about PLACE’s role and strategies in place-based initiatives.
It was an insightful tour, full of conversations, observations, and connections. We were proud to showcase our projects, our people, and our place.
Looking Ahead
The PLACE visit was more than just a stop on a tour, it was a conversation, a collaboration, and a call to action. What happens next will be shaped by the voices we heard and the stories we were trusted with.
At Becoming U, we’re committed to turning that energy into something meaningful. There’s more to come, more voices to amplify, more actions to take. But for now, we’re filled with deep gratitude for everyone who showed up, spoke up, and shared the day with us.
