THE driving force behind Violet Town’s popular annual Halloween event – which was attended by over 1000 people on Friday – is only 15 years old.
The teenager, Elliette Jeffery, modelled the event on the town’s previous annual Halloween event, Nightmare on Cowslip Street, which had stopped running during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, she mentioned to her dad the idea of running a similar event to keep the tradition going, who then helped her “get the ball rolling”.
Elliette has organised the event each year since then.
“Growing up it was something I looked forward to all year,” she told The Euroa Gazette.
“It's an event that families and everyone of all ages and abilities can attend, so it just opens up something fun to do for everyone.
“It's a very inclusive event.”
Her dad, Steven Jeffery, said his own role in the event was “more just sort of backing Elliette”.
“I really just stood sort of stood back and did what I was told,” he said.
The Halloween event is not the year nine student’s first community project.
In 2015, when she was in prep, she started a fundraiser for earthquake victims in Nepal.
In 2021 and 2022, during the pandemic, she made and sold facemasks, donating the profits towards COVID-19 research.
“I think I’ve always been community-orientated,” Elliette said.
“I really like seeing people happy and just enjoying themselves.
“It’s always really good when you work hard for something and it actually pays off, when you see that it is making a positive impact on the people around you.”
In 2021 she received two awards, the Weary Dunlop award and the Australian Young Citizen of the Year for Violet Town.
In 2023 she was a finalist in the Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria awards in the “young legends” category.
“Elliette's mum and I, we're super proud,” Steven said.
“She's always doing something; she really undersells herself.
“It’s just a real proud parent moment.”
Steven said his own father, Lyle Jeffery, had been very similar.
“It might've jumped a generation and missed me and went straight to her, but I think it's sort of that selfless, giving side of her that we see every day,” he said.