Red Ridge Presents

DRESS THE CENTRAL WEST

BEAUTY WITHIN THE DROUGHT, REIMAGINED

Dress the Central West has been a collaborative journey that has inspired, engaged, encouraged and empowered local people within central west communities to find “Beauty within the Drought”. The Gala has showcased regional designers, models, dancers, avant-garde makeup artists, and local hair stylists in a collective production that tells the story of our Outback.

34 Models

With all the models in the show local to our area, Dress the Central West has been a display of not only their overwhelming talent, but also their determination and courage to walk a catwalk infront of 200+ audience members.

34 Dancers

Emotional, entertaining and heartwarming, the local dance teams from the Longreach School of Dance and the Blackall School of Dance have cemented Dress the Central West as a show we’ll never forget.

10 Makeup Artists

From building the confidence of our models, providing
tailored makeup looks, and capturing the essence of the story behind each
outfit within their artistry, our local makeup artists have gone above and beyond.

4 Hair Stylists

With both outfit and model in mind, each avant-garde hairstyle was picture perfect. Our local hairstylists' determination, and outstanding artistry meant that every model and outfit stood out and proud.

RESILIENCE, STRENGTH AND UNITY

Red Ridge (Interior Queensland) Ltd partnered with Central West Hospital and
Health Service (CWHHS) and Central West Aboriginal Corporation (CWAC) to create the fashion parade of the year, Dress the Central West. Teaming with Fashion designer Claudia Williams, from Llani Creative, each outfit represented the history and traditions of the four communities involved in the project—Winton, Blackall, Longreach and Barcaldine.

Our Journey

Dress the Central West’s journey began on Monday, 26th of November, with workshops being held in Winton, Blackall, Barcaldine and Longreach. With Claudia Williams acting as creative director, our communities began designing several outfits that best represented their towns, stories, and culture in the adversity of drought using recycled or found material.

DRESS THE CENTRAL WEST MEDIA RELEASES

WEEKLY TIMES

May 28, 2019

'YOU don’t just step out of drought, even with summer rain, but people across Blackall, Winton, Longreach, and Barcaldine have taken a mental step away from it, exploring the theme of Beauty Within the Drought.'

KIRILI LAMB

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COUNTRY LIFE

1 June, 2019

'Drought is something that wears you down but now a wearable art production acclaimed as of national standing has shown that you can find beauty even in despair. As Red Ridge chairman Andrew Martin said, there is indeed beauty in a drought, if you know how to look for it. '

Sally Cripps

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ABC QLD

June 1, 2019

'Dress the Central West performance had it's second show in Longreach last night after performing to a crowd of almost 300 on the opening night in Blackall. The performance has proven a big hit and organisers are looking at plans to take it to other regions.'

ABC QLD