Fire Benefit Concert Raises Cash and Community Spirit

About 450 people packed Dargaville’s Town Hall last Friday night for a spectacular Fire Benefit Concert which raised $5,053 to assist those involved in the blaze which gutted four shops and damaged a fifth.

The $5,053 will go into a special fund which will be administered by the Mayor and two Kaipara Councilors.

“It was a great way for the community to come together to help put this disaster behind us and also assist the people who have suffered both emotionally and financially” says Mayor Neil Tiller who promoted the concert.

“Thank you to the performers who donated their services, everyone who rallied round to organise, publicise and run the event and especially to everyone who came and made the evening a memorable success.”

Friday night’s two hour programme, compèred by Whangarei lawyer and television personality Rob Harte, included a number of country items, dance by Instep Dance and Smac from Whangarei, a guitar solo by Tazz Nisbet plus other popular acts like Roslyn Gilmour, accapella group Take Six, Brooke Tier, Peter Martin, Ronnie Antonio, Kim Copedo, Alistair Goodland, the Kauri Chorus, R and B Connection and Joe Carbery.

A raffle, featuring a framed photograph of firefighters dousing the blaze and a plaque acknowledging the event, raised $420.00.

The concert concluded with an emotional thank you from members of the Foster family who spoke of the tremendous support they have received from the community since the fire on 6 January 2009.

The evening was recorded by Ken Cashin and can be contacted, on 09 439 4452, about purchasing copies.