AMID the machinery stalls, tool emporiums and food outlets of the Henty Machinery Field Days stands a large steel pavilion.
Petticoat Lane leads to its door and inside on a stage three times a day year 10 students from Billabong High School are put through their paces.
They parade on a catwalk, backed by a specially produced soundtrack to suit each garment.
The students are an integral part of what gives the HMFD Natural Fibre Fashion Awards its integrity.
For months they’ve been in training, sacrificing physical education at school to what amounts to a short course in grooming, etiquette and self confidence.
For the last six weeks they pass into the hands of awards compere Peta Schaefer and the going gets serious.
“Their esteem just shoots up,” says Peta.
The awards are now in their 14th year, and word has spread among independent designers across Australia, and now internationally, with entries coming this year from New Zealand, India and Nepal.
All entries must have a minimum of 70 per cent natural fibre.
With $6000 in prize money up for grabs, entrants are eagerly awaiting Thursday’s announcement of the winner.
Isaac McManus, 16, The Rock, said he got into the fashion parade seeking a new experience.
“And apparently I had really bad posture, so it’s definitely helped me with that, and my confidence,” he said.
Mustafa Aygun, 16, Yerong Creek said he’d never tried modelling before and, “never thought I would”, but he had been involved with the field days for years and it was just another aspect in which he could be involved in his community.
George Leov, 16, Culcairn said he’d really enjoyed the experience after he got over the nerves of the first performance on Tuesday.
Gina Heritage, 16, Holbrook, said her confidence had been given a real boost from her expereince, which she described as “great”.
“It was a bit nerve wracking at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
“At first you think people are looking at you, but then after a while you realise they’re looking at the clothes and we’re just the mannequins,” she said.
“I’ve met a lot of amazing people doing this.”
Renay Watson, 16, from Holbrook, said was really interested by the whole experience of people’s fashions and designs, “there’s some really great designs, vey well thought out.”
Renay said it was great to know schools could be involved and bringing such creations to the public.
Pip Bowler, 16, also from Holbrook, said she had really gained confidence from the experience.
“I’m much more confident about myself than I was at the start,” she said.
Cassandra Body, 16, Culcairn said once she got over her nerves she found it easier.
“You get used to it,” she said.
Ashleigh Mulloy, 16, from Holbrook said she had always wanted to be a model and thought of this as a first step into what one day could be a career.
“I’ve definitely gained a whole lot of confidence out of this,” she said.
“At first I was even scared of Peta.”
Barb Dengate is the teacher who offered support to the students throughout the process, ran the backstage show and handled all the paper work that goes along with having a bunch of students out in the public.
She’s been involved in organising the show for about eight years now and said she enjoyed watching each new group grow in confidence, making their tentative way to young adulthood.