This will be used to fund basic needs such as a food bank, help with accommodation, legal aid, English language classes and clothing. Every $5 raised can give a refugee or asylum seeker family a square meal.

Organised by the Bellingen and Nambucca Rural Australians for Refugees, the event featured musicians Heather Rose on piano and vocals; and the inimitable duo ‘The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach’; plus works for auction donated by Archibald and Sulman prize winner, Australian artist Wendy Sharpe.

Heather Rose gave us a wonderful start to the  afternoon with a very atmospheric and dramatic arrangement of John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’  – we had  a didgeridoo playing in addition to the piano and the words of the song were sung by Heather and overlaid by a Gumbaynggir translation.

This was followed by a programme of beautiful classical music and a supporting appearance by ‘The Wild Women of Anywhere Beach’ with their mighty ukes and hilarious songs.

We are so fortunate in our town to have such great facilities for a concert like this.

Many thanks to our community for their generous support and help and thanks to you for helping us spread the word  around. In addition to this we are still in the process of selling two art works donated by the award winning Australian artist Wendy Sharpe.

The amount we raise for these will be added to our final total profit.