Kimberley and Pilbara girls get ready to walk

Shining examples of leadership and confidence in young indigenous women of the North West will be again be sought out, as Goolarri Media’s Kimberley Girl and Pilbara Girl competitions continue to grow this year.

Training and heats during last year’s competition were held in four major centres, but this year that number would expand to seven, including Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Wyndham and Kununurra, Karratha and Roebourne, and Port Hedland.

Goolarri chief executive Jodie Bell said she anticipated the number of girls participating would double this year.

“Pilbara Girl will have its own finals event this year in Port Hedland, so that’s great,” Ms Bell said.

“We’re also hoping there will be more girls from the remote communities getting involved, especially being our second year in Fitzroy Crossing, but now also in Halls Creek,” she said.

One of Kimberley Girl’s main organisers, Kira Fong, and other session facilitators will join 2010 Kimberley Girl winner Buna Tuaty-Poelina to deliver participant training sessions.

Ms Bell said Tuaty-Poelina, 18, was employed by Goolarri and would lead the way in bringing past participants into a training role with new ones.

“She will start this year, but there are seven other past Kimberley Girl participants who have been identified as having the potential,” she said.

Pilbara Girl kicks off with workshops on August 15-19 and a small heat on August 20 in Port Hedland, and Karratha and Roebourne workshops on August 22- 26 and small heat on August 27. Final workshops will be held in Karratha from August 29 to September 2, and the Pilbara Girl final, also in Karratha, will be held on Friday, September 2.

Meanwhile in the Kimberley, workshops will be held in Kununurra, Halls Creek and Wyndham on September 19 to 23 culminating in a small heat in Kununurra on September 24.

Workshops in Fitzroy Crossing start on September 26, and finish on September 30 with a heat.

Broome and Derby workshops will be held on October 3-7 with heats on October 8, and finals workshops in Broome start on October 10 and finish on Kimberley Girl final day, October 14.

For more information or to register interest, contact Goolarri Media Enterprises on the number 9195 5333.