Jazzy fundraiser set for Huntly

A RAGLAN Street Jazz Concert will be going ahead to help raise money for the flood-affected Rochester community next month.

The show will feature the Maryborough Trad Jazz Ensemble with the money raised going to Rochester and Elmore District Community Health.

Event organiser Bill Knight said he came up with the idea after chatting to some family members impacted by the recent flood event.

“I am a native of Rochester,” he said. “I was born and bred there, and I still have a brother and sister who live there.

“They are both flooded out and displaced and it is going to be quite some time before they get back into their houses.

“Talking to my sister who used to be a nurse at Rochester for a long time, I suggested we possibly try and raise some funds for Rochester and Elmore District Community Health.”

Mr Knight said the fundraiser is focused on helping out a certain department of REDCH.

“We want to raise some money for the in-home nursing and community support sector,” he said. “They have lost a lot of their equipment and medical items and everyday things they use.”

Mr Knight said the community has been great at helping with the event and it was also about raising awareness.

“A lot of organisations have donated help and money and those types of things,” he said. “Which has been wonderful, everyone has pitched in.

“It’s a really good cause, people think just because the floods happened in Rochester it’s all over, but it’s not there is a long way to go and for every one step forward more problems seem to emerge.”

The Raglan Street Jazz Concert is being held on Sunday, 7 May at the Huntly Memorial Hall.

Tickets are $20 which includes afternoon tea and prizes to be won on the day, if you are interested in attending you can contact Bill Knight on 0438 323 454.