Local landmarks will be lit up in red as part of World Voice Day, to help start a conversation about voice health, changes and loss.
Greater Shepparton City Council is assisting the campaign by lighting up the Mooroopna Water Tower and Riverlinks Eastbank on Tuesday, April 16.
Significant landmarks across Australia and the world will also turn red — the colour of our larynx — as part of the campaign.
Organised nationally by the Australian Dysphonia Network, the event is part of its ‘Resonate, Educate and Celebrate’ campaign to raise awareness about the human voice.
Launched in Brazil in 1999, World Voice Day promotes awareness about the science behind voice production and its crucial role in our daily lives.
The movement has expanded globally over the years, with 50 countries participating in its annual observance.
Established in 2016, the ADN is a not-for-profit charity that focuses on raising awareness about voice disorders such as dysphonia, and advocating for individuals affected by them and supporting them.
Chronic dysphonia affects about one in every 100,000 people in Australia and New Zealand. It translates to involuntary spasms in the larynx, similar to an eye twitch.
As a result, the affected voice sounds gravelly, breathy or crackly, severely impacting communication.
Because 30 per cent of occupations in our society are voice-dependent, the consequences of such disorders can be profound.
For more information or to donate, visit the ADN website: www.adn.org.au