November 2004

Young musicians convey anti-marijuana message

Young musician Stephan Panczac produced the winning track in the Melbourne Fringe Festival’s Electrovision@Fringe music competition.

Festival Chair, judging panel member and highly-regarded composer David Chisholm said Panczac’s Patient as a Tree was the standout track.

‘The judging panel was unanimous,’ Mr Chisholm said.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike announced the winner and launched a 10-track CD of the best compositions, including the winning entry.

Two thousand copies of the CD have been distributed to radio networks and community organisations.

Electrovision@Fringe was part of the Government’s sponsorship of the Melbourne Fringe to reinforce the message that ‘marijuana can do more harm than you think’.

The Get Off the Couch theme emphasised the notion that good music and theatre cannot be written or enjoyed live if cannabis confines the user to the lounge room.

Through the Electrovision@Fringe music competition members of the arts community and public developed tracks to communicate a message about the harmful effects of cannabis in a youthful style and language.

Australians are among the biggest cannabis consumers in the world with one in 10 users becoming dependent.