General News
22 January, 2023
Music heats up recovery
THE banks of the Loddon River were rocking on Saturday when legendary Melbourne-based band Party Animals took to the deck of the town’s hall. Hundreds of people partied into the night raising funds for the the community, the first of several Loddon...
THE banks of the Loddon River were rocking on Saturday when legendary Melbourne-based band Party Animals took to the deck of the town’s hall.
Hundreds of people partied into the night raising funds for the the community, the first of several Loddon towns hit by the October flood emergency.
With the now tranquil Loddon River as the backdrop and temperatures nudging 40 degrees, there was music and dancing on the grass from mid-afternoon well into the night.
Local publicans Matt and Michelle Mizzi teamed with BEEFitUP Australia Let’s Get rural projects team to raise funds towards rebuilding the recreation reserve. Project lseader Anita Donlon said the weekend’s fundraiser had also been backed by Australian Horizons Foundation.
Raffles and refreshments were key contributors to the coffers as Newbridge awaits the final damage bill at the reserve, expected to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
One of Party Animals’ founding members, guitarist Wayne Gale, had arrived back in Australia from Vietnam just hours before the Newbridge performance.
“It’s really important to help country communities,” he said.
Ms Donlon said further fundraising concerts were planned for flood-affected communities.