How art transformed the small town of Girgarre

A Victorian government grant has helped revive the small town of Girgarre through the power of music.
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Image: Girgarre from the dirt. Photo: Serena Hunt.

A regional Victorian farming town that faced drought in addition to massive job cuts when the local Heinz factory closed, has harnessed the power of music to revive the community.

Girgarre in the 1960s was bustling; there were many shops, a school with over 180 students and new infrastructure being built. This all began to change in the late ‘70s, after the milk factory closed, causing a rapid decline in population and employment. Then, in the early 2000s there was a major drought. But in the face of this adversity, the community showed its solidarity.

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