By MELISSA MEEHAN
IT’S the sound of safety.
With their $10,000 community safety grant, the Dandenong Ranges Music Council has produced a CD to raise awareness and find a way to communicate an effective message about personal safety.
A collection of four original songs have been written and recorded by Carolyn Oates, with young people from Monbulk Primary School, Upwey High School and the Yarra Ranges Youth Services FReeZA group.
Singer Carolyn Oates said she met with each group four times, writing words around their chosen safety theme and eventually co-created the songs on CD.
“There were common solutions across many of the issues raised including being aware of your surroundings and know how to describe the people to authorities, be mindful of the wellbeing of your friends and dialling triple-zero is always a good thing,” Ms Oates said.
“It’s been a beautiful thing to see these ideas blossom and it’s always a surprise to find what lyric gems come from the workshops.”
Crime Prevention Minister Edward O’Donohue, who also attended the launch, said the project raised community awareness about some safety concerns for young people in the community.
“It gives a real insight into the way our young people think and how we, as a community, can help them feel comfortable and secure in their surroundings,” Mr O’Donohue said.
“Over the past three years, the Coalition has provided more than $2.8 million to fund 422 projects across the state through the Community Safety Fund.
“This includes more than $441,000 for 16 community crime prevention projects in the Yarra Ranges.”
