Tara Murray
A dance school in Hillside for children with autism has been winning hearts for years and continues to do so.
BusyFeet, which is supported by the Rotary Club of Caroline Springs, was recently named as the social wellbeing award winner at the Keep Victoria Beautiful 2021 Sustainable Cities awards.
Annette Butterworth has been organising the group for seven years. She said it was amazing to win an award like this.
“I didn’t think we had a hope with the 19 other finalists,” she said.
“I was over the moon, as it’s such great recognition for the program. The program is for children with disabilities between six and 16.
“As long as they are on the autism spectrum, they’re welcome.”
Ms Butterworth said the group wasn’t only for the children but for the parents as well, giving them time to sit down and have a coffee and a bit of a break.
The students have performed at several parties, including performing in front of more than 1000 people in Tasmania a few years ago.
“The kids don’t care, they have no fear,” she said.
“They hear the music and go for it. There’s a real fuzzy feeling.”
The group continued to meet over Zoom throughout the pandemic, with Ms Butterworth saying they were getting eight or nine students a session.
She said getting to have three in person classes late this year had been really important.
