from YAPRap March 2006
by Hanna
Last year I went to Festival Mushroom Records for my Year 10 work experience from Carroll College Broulee, (near Batemans Bay NSW). The girls there told me "the best thing to do at your age is get hands-on experience".
I started telling my friends "I'm going to organise a gig". They didn't have much faith. Until about 6 hard months later when the posters were going up for a under age dance party. People in my year group couldn't believe it. "Hanna you're so young, as if you could put on such a event". Even til the end of the night I couldn't believe it either, over 400 kids turned up to see all the live bands and a DJ.
Rock off was so rewarding because the local bands were exposed (which doesn't happen much in the Bay). I raised over $1000 for Canteen for Cancer which gave me a great feeling by giving to people in need. I got to meet so many new faces which was a beautiful thing because so many people in communities are prepared to help out a kid trying to make a go of things. A lot of adults would congratulate me, also friends of mine now say that they will be happy to help organise another gig because now they know it is possible.
Thanks to Jen Ryan and Milly McAlister: Rock off wouldn't have been as successful without them.
