Variety Night brings total to $60,000!

We did it! On a hot, balmy Saturday evening, Cooktown's own special brand of local talent came together to raise nearly $3,000 and bring our fund-raising total to an amazing $60,000!

It was a fabulous night, and our huge thanks go to everyone involved: Serge Petelin (guitar) & Shaun Creek (didge) - what an opening act! Darcy & Ethan, the Terrible, and very funny, Twins; Derek Rosendale - always sublime; Roz Smith for her very entertaining (and toned down!) performance; Lek Jantrarat who held us spellbound with her stunning voice; Coleridge Bown - such smooth country sounds, no wonder you win awards! Dr. Mike and Dan the Man - your funky flute and guitar were fantastic. The Shee Sha Fusion Belly Dancers blew everyone away with their magical performance, and Tess's snake dance (with live snake) got everyone on the move, especially the kids!

And special thanks to the Black Image band whose fantastic music had everyone dancing 'til late. You guys deserve every award you've ever won. And to the talented and irreplaceable Dan Hodgson (aka Dan the Man) who not only played a rippin' guitar with Dr. Mike, but handled the lights and sound as well.

And behind the scenes... Italian Restaurant and Cooktown Food Services for their yummy food, the Re-enactment Association for running the bar, the Cooktown Local News for the advertising, Cooktown Newsagents for their inimitable banner-making skills, Cook Shire Council for the venue, the Cooktown Police for all their support, and the Cooktown Chamber of Commerce & Tourism for co-ordinating the event. 

And to all those fantastic helpers who cooked, counted, cleaned, fetched, carried, organised, promoted, and generally helped make it happen - Thank you! We're helping more people that we probably know - and it really was FUN!

How to donate

List of donors