Southern Rip saved

Busselton youth organisation Southern Rip has been saved after the Busselton Shire Council elected to continue to provide funding to the group until the end of June 2013.

Picture by Becky Felstead: Jacob Arnold (story below)

Eight of the 11 councillors in attendance voted in support of Shire president Ian Stubbs’ alternative motion to continue to fund Southern Rip by allocating $80,000 in the 2012-13 budget, subject to signing a memorandum of understanding and achievement of key performance indicators.

The motion also required chief executive Mike Archer to arrange to have the issue of delivery of youth services workshopped by councillors.

During debate Cr Stubbs said council should continue to honour their previous decision to fund Southern Rip.

“I am of the opinion we should continue as we have done over the past two years for 2012-13 but work with youth providers to determine a direction to commence on July 1, 2013,” he said.

In supporting the motion, councillors rejected the Shire officer’s recommendation to withdraw funding from the group and instead allocate $100,000 in the 2012-13 budget to employ a full-time youth development officer and provide program funding of $25,000.

The decision was welcomed by Southern Rip operations manager Caroline Beamond who said it would allow them to move into the second phase of their strategic plan which was to activate a whole community consultation process.

“We are very much looking forward to meeting with the Shire and broader community over the coming year,” she said.

“We are very happy there will be a council-driven community workshop in the first half of 2012 which will involve all youth organisations.”

Ms Beamond said the meeting showed there was definite consensus that more needed to be done for youth in the shire.

“I would like to thank the community for their support, especially the young people who prepared a petition of 748 signatures and the many positive comments received on the Southern Rip Facebook page,” she said.

An alternative motion by Cr David Binks asking the Shire to employ a part-time youth development officer for grant and sponsorship applications in addition to the continuation of the Southern Rip funding was rejected two votes to nine.

Jacob speaks up about Southern Rip

Busselton teenager Jacob Arnold has stood up to be part of young people’s voice for Southern Rip.

Jacob spoke in support of the organisation and presented a petition of almost 750 signatures supporting its continued funding to the Busselton Shire Council.

Jacob said when he moved to Busselton more than three years ago Southern Rip gave him an outlet to have input into how things happened and to meet like-minded youth.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without Southern Rip and neither would a lot of other young people,” he said.

Jacob said working at Southern Rip events had given him the basis, understanding and contacts to pursue a career as an audio engineer.

He said it had secured him a job at RockWest and later Harvey Norman and events such as Southbound and Ironman.

Jacob said Southern Rip was a diverse group with members ranging from young mothers, to people with disabilities and social issues.

“There are no restrictions on what people can and can’t do, we offer a network of friends who are all there to support one another,” he said.

Jacob said the group gave young people something to do, was progressing with the drug aware message and gave them hands on experience.