Despite droughts and flooding rains, the volunteers of the Outback Festival in Winton, Queensland, have raised $22,000 to the Heart of Australia program at the Sunset Extravaganza Sunset Dinner attended by over 300+ people held during the September 2017 festival at the Bladensburg National Park.
“The Sunset Charity Dinner was a major fundraising activity of the program and exemplifies this small town’s commitment to its fellow Australians”, explains Festival coordinator and Winton resident, Robyn Stephens OAM.
“We were able to raise $22,000 for the Heart of Australia clinic”, said festival coordinator Robyn Stephens OAM, “This foundation was identified as country Australians are currently 44% more likely than city dwellers to die from a heart attack”.
The evening featured the charity dinner also featured a re-enactment of the original charge of the Light Horse Brigade celebrating the Centenary of the Charge at Beersheba by the Qld. Light Horse Historical Troops.
“We acknowledged that of the 519 men who enlisted from the district during WW1 approximately one-fifth of these men enlisted into the Australian Light Horse Regiment, “said Australian Country music singer and MC for the evening, Tania Kernaghan.
The generous donation of $22,000 was delivered on Saturday 3rd March in Winton by Outback Festival committee members who made a special cheque presentation to Dr Rolf Gomes, Brisbane cardiologist and founder of ‘Heart of Australia’ whilst he was in Winton.
“We acknowledge and are thankful to the lovely township of Winton and all the supporters at the Sunset Dinner and especially the hard work of the coordinators and volunteers of the festival who have endured the hardship of the outback with the recent significant weather events making their lives so much more difficult. We truly appreciate the support of small towns and especially Winton which is a much-loved destination of many of our team of Doctors”. Thank you, Winton – Heart of Australia is touched by your heartfelt efforts. We look forward to enjoying many more glorious sunsets in your town!
