Sarah Jones loves spinning and dancing with her friends. Picture: Teagan Glenane
Bill Daniels on the dance floor. Picture: Teagan Glenane
Organiser Gordon with Rosie. Picture: Teagan Glenane
Naomi Cay, John Welburne met a few years ago at a disco and have been together ever since! Picture: Teagan Glenane
THE brick hall could be any nightclub in Melbourne on a Friday night.
The women have indulged in their favourite outfit and the men have sprayed on their finest after-shave.
At the door, they pay the usual entry fee and get ready to dance to anything from KISS to Lady Gaga.
But it's not in Melbourne's club precinct and many of the patrons are in wheelchairs or have a mental disability. They are here for the monthly over-18, all-abilities disco at the Bayswater youth hall.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the all-abilities disco.
Since 2007, the all-abilities disco has attracted people with disabilities from across the eastern suburbs. They might have mental health problems, a physical disability and be wheelchair-bound, or have a condition such as autism or Down syndrome.
Kathy Rooke co-ordinated the first disco and is still in charge, along with Gordon Jones, known to the disco-goers as DJ Flash.
Both have extensive experience in the disability sector and wanted to create a space where adults with a disability could have the freedom to be themselves, Ms Rooke said. About 55 people attend the disco on the second Friday of each month and many are regulars.
Boronia resident Margarita Thomaidis, 34, has volunteered on the door of the disco for five years.
She sells tickets and glow-sticks and then hits the dance floor with several friends she has made.
One of her best mates is Wayne, also known as DJ Wayno, who will play song requests from Margarita. There are three girls she now sees outside of the disco. "We like to talk and eat junk food together," she said.
Ms Rooke said the discos allowed the patrons to be "uninhibited". "We've even had a love affair come out of it, [a couple who] would meet every Friday night and rarely miss a disco," she said.
At first everyone was shy, Ms Rooke said, but it did not take them long to begin socialising.
"We want them to be independent, for example say the odd rude word, just be themselves."
The disco provides an easily accessible venue for people who struggle to be accepted at other clubs or bars.
The next all-abilities disco is on Friday, April 12 from 6.30pm at the Bayswater youth hall on the corner of Station and Pine Streets, Bayswater. Details: Kathy Rooke, 0413 812 988.