At the core of Groovin’ philosophy is bringing people together as one big community. Or as we like to call it, comooooonity. We’re thrilled with what we’ve got in store for Bendigo in 2023.

Graffin the Moo
Nacho Station facilitate community art by connecting artists with organisers, in order to make mural art accessible, meaningful and fun. Nacho Station are on a mission to help communities create inspired and accessible public artworks that celebrate community identity. Nacho Station, along with 15 local young people will be bringing the fence lines to life with street art style graffiti.

LGBTQIA+ Safe Spaces
Thorne Harbour Country aims to serve the health needs of LGBTQIA+ communities to ensure all gender, sex, and sexually diverse individuals are treated with dignity and can participate fully in society. They provide support, counselling, rapid HIV testing and resources and information around LGBTQI+ wellbeing.
Anglicare’s Keep in Touch project aims to normalise conversations around mental health. The Keep in Touch team will be set up with beanbags, blankets, comfy chairs providing a space to kick back. The team travel with the Keep in Touch van that runs short conversational activities to engage youth in conversations around mental health.

Local Artist Showcases
The Plot stage is a space dedicated to local artists and DJs, all handled by local stage managers. GTM will work with a local promoter to program this stage, which historically has gone off and is an absolute highlight for locals and visitors alike.

Local Roller Derby
Dragon City Roller Derby is Bendigo’s only roller derby club. Their representative team, the Chiko Rollers plays throughout Victoria and Australia. Members of Dragon City Roller Derby will be joining the GTM Team by directing patrons from trains to buses at Bendigo Station making sure they make it to GTM safely. Be sure to say hello!

Local Fundraisers
The Lions Club of Strathfieldsaye will be once again facilitating the car park, collecting donations to support the many philanthropic causes they support locally. The Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst will be back again with a BBQ at Bendigo train station to fill the tummies of GTM patrons as they make their way home after the festival.

Powder Pen
GTM’s Powder Pen will keep festival-goers looking festival fresh! For a small donation, patrons can get a quick hair and make-up ‘zjoosh’ thanks to local salon Honeyeater.

Signing Tent
Team members from Ambedo Magazine will assist in managing our signing tent for the day, giving them real world industry experience.

Ticket Exchange Program
Anglicare work with families towards positive change. Whether it be a helping hand in a time of crisis, or providing longer-term support and care. They are Victoria’s largest provider of Out of Home Care and Family Services, and one of Australia’s most innovative agencies in working with vulnerable children youth and families.

BF&FS (Bendigo Family & Financial Services) assist individuals, families and communities to live healthy lives, be financially empowered, socially connected and have access to universal basic services.

Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative: indigenous assistance, founded to represent and provide services to the Dja Dja Wurrung community (Jaara people) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents living in the Dja Dja Wurrung boundaries.

Horizon House provides temporary and long term accommodation for young people aged 16-22 who are experiencing homelessness or who are living in undesirable circumstances.

Welcome to Country
Wulumbarra is a First Nations environmental conservation organisation and community group connecting youth to their culture and land. Wulumbarra Dance Group will be performing the Welcome to Country for Bendigo GTM.

Work Experience and Volunteer Placement
GTM are excited to be engaging the help of students from Yo Events. Students will gain experience working on a large-scale event and have the opportunity to network with industry professionals and like- minded individuals. Yo Events is a fun-loving team of young people creating live music, skate and entertainment events across Bendigo – for young people, by young people.

Ambedo Magazine is a 100% youth magazine designed and published by youth for youth. The magazine covers topics that matter to them whilst showcasing local young artists and photographers. The Ambedo team will get the chance to to hone their journalism skills by conducting interviews, shooting event photography and being involved as part of Groovin the Moo festival in Bendigo.