Wednesday marked Shepparton youth organisation Word and Mouth’s kick-off for 2020, with an orientation week to jell new and experienced members of the group.
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Word and Mouth project manager Jim Gow said this year the WAM army consisted of 31 people aged between 12 and 25 years.
“They will volunteer between 150 and 200 hours of their time this calendar year,” Mr Gow said.
“There’s around 50 per cent returning from last year and 50 per cent new, which is a great balance of new blood and fresh ideas as well as a mix of returning people with experience and knowledge on what’s worked before.”
Mr Gow said this week was about reflecting on WAM’s values, how WAM operated, what had been successful and, later in the week, coming up with fresh ideas for 2020.
“Nerdmania is probably the biggest event we’ll do again — there was 1500 people last year in seven hours,” he said.
Last year, Nerdmania, which was based in Shepparton’s Showgrounds, celebrated pop culture and science fiction, with guest speakers across more than 50 stalls.
WAM will also continue its Dive-In movie event at Aquamoves in Shepparton, where it screened Jaws last year.
Mr Gow said it was a sell-out.
“Dive-In is a mixture of drive-in cinema and inflatable pool toys and immersive cinema,” he said.
“We’re going to watch a shark movie, The Shallows, down at the Aquamoves cinema — you’ll be watching it floating in the pool.”
Overall, Mr Gow said he had a good feeling about this year.
“This group will be touring schools and making where they live a better place to be,” he said.
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