Tyler Redway
THE Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group held a sell-out fundraising show of country music courtesy of a selection of local music legends at the RSL Bowling Club.
Tickets for the show sold out three weeks after they became publicly available, which former event organiser Kevin Sporer said was a regular occurrence for the annual event.
Mr Sporer, who has a 60-year history in country music, served as the host of the event for 12 years before handing over the reins to current organiser Tracey Allen.
He said it was a pleasure to host the fundraiser each year for a worthwhile cause.
“It has been a pleasure to do it every time and it always attracts a crowd which is pretty much booked out every time,” Mr Sporer said.
“Country music has always had a good following and it has been around for a hundred years while never quite fluctuating.
“A lot of other stuff will go up and down, but country music has never moved from the level it has been at.”
Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group treasurer Barb Smith said donations and ticket sales from the event would go towards vouchers, accommodation, travel and food for the organisation’s clients on their journey to fight cancer.
Ms Smith said the event couldn;t happen without the help of the musicians.
“It’s so important because without the help of people like them in the community, we would not be able to support people during their cancer journeys,” Ms Smith said.
“We are just thankful the artists and the community of Mount Gambier are supporting us as well as they have been, it’s really amazing to see.”
Current event organiser Tracey Allen said she felt it was a “huge responsibility” to be the host of the event, but it would be worth it to offer cancer support.
“For us, what music does and how it affects people is so good, because this event especially goes towards the Cancer Support Group to not only help cancer patients but also their families as well,” she said.
“It is a really big responsibility to take on and it will be quite nerve racking, but for the cause it serves, you don’t look at your own personal issues but instead at the bigger picture.
“When you can do it to raise money for people who are living with cancer, it just helps so much in a tough time because it just takes away some of the stress.”
Ms Allen said seeing the effect music had on people was very rewarding in itself for her personally.
“I just love what music does to bring people together and even with families with dementia, because sometimes they may not recognise their family but as soon as you start playing a particular song, they start tapping their feet and their face just lights up.”
