By Luke Voogt
Mink Cummins, AKA Mink Mila, has her high school music teacher to thank for inspiring her musical journey, along with her most recent award.
“Mum said I used to run around in tutus singing, but I was never much of a musician as a kid,” the 17-year-old remembered.
That changed when she took up music as an elective at Surf Coast Secondary College a few years ago:
“My music teacher Evan Jones – a really modest and kind guy, and great teacher – asked me to sing a song,” Mink said.
“After that he was like, ‘we’re going to make a musician out of you’.”
His connections also helped Mink get some gigs, after a few years learning guitar, and she has since performed at Torquay Cowrie and Farmers markets, Nightjar and the Aireys Inlet and Queenscliff music festivals.
“I used to be super shy and I’d never tell people when I had gigs on,” she said.
“Now I’m coming more out of my shell and asking friends to come along. I had my first all-original gig last weekend, which was really fun.”
She has also performed at venues across Melbourne and Ballarat, and has planned and run gigs for adolescents on the Surf Coast as part of the state-wide FReeZA program.
She was shocked but thrilled last Saturday to win the Surf Coast Youth Award for arts.
“It didn’t think I was going to get it,” she said.
“Everyone in the room was really happy for me and supportive. Evan nominated me.”
Lorne SES volunteer James Staley, LGBTI+ advocate Jax Wake and Geelong Landcare Newtork board member Tim Harte shared the community award, while courageous surfer Mia Huppatz won the sport category.
The Surf Coast Environmental Action Team won the environment award.
