$20,000 raised for flood victims

Docklands hit the dance floor on February 24 and, in the process, raised more than $20,000 for Queensland and Victorian flood victims.

More than 200 people attended a fundraising evening at Watermark in Victoria Harbour and were well entertained by Bobby Valentine’s Very Tall Show and Switch Music and friends.

Harbour Town Shopping Centre sponsored the night with a $5000 donation, while the musicians and venue staff all worked for free.

Money collected from entry tickets, donation and charity auctions amounted to more than $20,000 which will be shared between the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal (75 per cent) and the Red Cross Victorian Flood Appeal (25 per cent).

The event was organised by Docklands News in response to January’s devastating floods.

Editor Shane Scanlan said he was pleased with the result.  “It was great to be able to provide an opportunity for Docklanders to respond to the disasters.”

“And these events also help to build community spirit, so that was a good outcome too.”

Mr Scanlan thanked Harbour Town, Docklands News staff, the musicians, Natasha Ferre who was MC for the evening, Cheryle Street for auctioning donated items, JC Street staff, Tanja Karavesov and all the donors.

“But I reserve two huge thank yous – one for Tanina Osborne who organised the entertainment, and one for John Ahern and his team at Watermark,” Mr Scanlan said.

“Watermark put all the food and drink on for nothing.  The security too.  And all the staff gave their time too.  It was a massive effort,” he said.

Mr Scanlan said the final total was not yet clear. 

“We have to chase a few people who left before collecting their auction items or paying for them,” he said.  “But we should know the total very soon.”

In a separate fundraising effort, Melbourne Ice, the Harbour Town Hotel and the Medibank Icehouse raised $3445 through a “Pucks for Buck” charity exhibition match at the Icehouse on February 11.