Tiarna Maciejewski sums up what many people are thinking, feeling and desiring when she talks about the major community event she is organising.
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On Saturday, December 4 at the Ulladulla Civic Centre the "Gala for Good" event will be held and Tiarna knows it's something the community just needs.
"I have always wanted to do something for the community - like volunteering but I didn't really know where to go or what to do," she said.
Tiarna, during lockdown, started thinking about ways she could help the community and she also thought about the things she missed.
The chance to socialise and be with other people was one of the things she missed the most during lockdown.
She wanted the chance to go out, get dressed up, have a dance and a drink with people.
"So I thought - why not do something that can help people at the same time and everybody needs this - everybody wants to feel good about themselves again," she said.
"I want to go out and not have to think about wearing a mask, not have to think about how far away am I sitting next to someone or think about if I am able to go to that shop.
"So I started putting the feelers out."
She spoke to Michelle Babington from the Ulladulla Civic Centre and got strong support.
"She [Michelle] was like 'yeah that is a great idea' and they just happened to have a day free in December," Tiarna said.
Tiarna said it was 'meant to be' because the Civic Centre rarely has booking spaces available in December.
She has been in the area for four-and-years after moving to the region with her partner Cian, who was born in Ulladulla.
The Gala for Good organiser said the community fundraising part of the event was just as important as the social side of things.
Tiarna has heard of many local community groups "doing great things" but needed help to find three worthy groups.
"I have asked people to nominate a charity because there is that many around that need the help," she said.
Nominations for the worthy groups are open from now until October 29.
.All nominated organisations will be then put into a voting poll - then it's up to the public to vote and voting closes on November 30.
At the Gala for Good night the top three recipients from the vote count will get an equal share of the funds they raise.
"I am hoping to raise a worthwhile amount that they can do something with. However, any amount will be a good amount," she said.
"I want to help people because it has been a woeful woeful couple of years."
She wants to help the groups that have been helping the community over these past few years.
In general, she said word is spreading and people are getting excited about what will be a great night.
She hopes to get 200 people at the event and would like to stage the night annually.
"I want people to go home afterward and fall on their beds from dancing all night and go 'life is good'," she said.
She has had groups offering support, including NC Services who are donating a photo booth, DJ and lighting.
"A huge plug to them - we could not have done it without them," she said. A local band will also be playing a set on the night.
So Tiarna said get your charity group nominations in and also buy your tickets.