1 week Ago By Madilyn McKinley
Iilysh Retallick has one word to sum up her experience - a "rollercoaster". or signup to continue reading The 17-year-old from Culcairn, located in the south-east Murray region between Albury and Wagga Wagga, was announced as the runner-up to Queensland's Marshall Hamburger, on Monday evening, April 7, and although she didn't take the title, she felt elated by the experience. "I'm feeling so happy, I am sad that it is all over, but I'm happy," she said.
After the final decision was revealed, there was some community outcry that the 17-year-old was robbed of the title, however, Iilysh disagreed. "I don't think I was robbed at all," she said. "I think in a way, I did win and I'm super, super, happy with how far I came, I mean to make the top 2 is absolutely insane.
"Marshall deserves the world, he deserves the title and I'm so happy for him." Judge Kyle Sandilands also promised a van for the teenager, so she could hit the road with her music. Iilysh agreed Sandilands should make a trip to the Border and Culcairn for its purchase.
"I was so excited, I couldn't believe it, Kyle was offering me that," she said. "I'll have to hold him against that one, he can't back out of that one now, Culcairn's mighty! "But I'm super excited, I was over the moon and it's great to see he was willing to support me." Showing Australia who she is as an artist is precisely what Iilysh wants to do next.
"I think the plan now is to get on the road and start putting out music and just sharing, sharing more of who I am as an artist and as a person and building up my platforms," she said. During her journey, her favourite songs she performed were her grand finale picks; her duet with Wolfmother's Andrew Stockdale singing and the Divinyls' Many of her outfits throughout the series were custom-made, which she gets to take back home with her. Iilysh was thankful to everyone who voted for her and supported her dream.
"I hope I inspired some people to get out there and give something a go if you love it and stay true to yourself," the Billabong High School student said. When the cameras stopped rolling, Iilysh celebrated her momentous journey with her friends and family and also went to the wrap party with the production team and other contestants. At least 250 people made their way to Culcairn Sports Ground for a viewing party to cheer on the supermarket worker, with the football ground hosting an inflatable screen and an indoor room.
Cold cans and Iilysh sausages were served but the specialty sausages were sold out before 7pm. On stage, Culcairn was also given a live cross, where Iilysh got to watch her community dressed in blue T-shirts cheer her on. "It was an amazing feeling seeing everybody there; there were so many of them all together there to support me and it definitely made me feel very happy and it got rid of some of the nerves!" she said.
Viewing party organiser Jolonna Brand said she thought it was just the beginning for Iilysh. "We couldn't be any more proud of Iilysh; in our eyes she's an absolute legend, she's a winner and she always will be in our eyes," she said. Culcairn resident Tracey Lee said "the stars are hers" after reflecting on the teenager's growth.
"We've known Iilysh since she was born, and the whole Retallick family, and she started singing as a child and we just love listening to her," she said. "Whether it was around the campfire or at a get-together, just to see how much she has grown when she has got to this [ ] is just unbelievable, it blows us away each time." It is uncertain when Iilysh will return to Culcairn, but it is clear when she does there will be a celebration for her efforts.
Journalist at The Border Mail.You can contact me at madilyn.mckinley@austcommunitymedia.
com.au. Journalist at The Border Mail.
You can contact me at [email protected].
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