Within
the grounds of the Esk Hospital on the morning of 6th July, there
was a hotbed of activity with police vehicles, fire engines, the S.E.S. and a
profusion of first responders all lollygagging about, such that a passer-by
might be forgiven for imagining the worst.
However,
a closer inspection revealed that this was anything but an emergency, simply
the occasion of the Esk Hospital’s fete; a fundraiser for this precious medical
facility which has been serving the health needs of the people of Esk and the
Brisbane Valley Region for decades.
Colourful
kiosks fringed the outer perimeters selling all manner of home-made edible
treats and trinkets. Tables and chairs
dotted the lawn for those who chose to sit and savour scones with cream and jam
and a ‘cuppa’ while Ruby roamed with her jar of jellybeans, a raffle prize to
some lucky guesstimater. Though snakes
are commonplace around these parts, attention was rapt at the reptile stall alongside
others who preferred to pay a price to pat the llamas.
While
the sun had managed to elbow its way through the clouds on this special day,
one didn’t need to be a weather man to know that the brunt of the ‘Roaring
Forties’ had found its way to Esk. And
so it was that following ‘Sunny’ the jazz singer’s performance of some delightful
jazz standards, and with the eloquent emcee Eric at the microphone, the Esk
Community Choir found their places along the hospital ramp, while Alexis and
Ruth tag teamed at the piano armed with a plethora of pegs and a ‘page turner’
to prevent the sheet music from blowing away.
For an hour or so, the choir and duos performed for an enthusiastic
gathering a selection of the songs and duets they will be taking on tour to
Tasmania in August and despite the challenging conditions the choir, conductor
and accompanists had to endure, the audience appreciation was obvious.
By
all accounts, and with grateful acknowledgement of the hard work and
organization by the Hospital Auxiliary, the day proved to be both socially and
financially successful, hopefully edging nearer to that proposed renovation of
the hospital’s visitors’ room. Alexis
and the Esk Community Choir wish to extend their gratitude for the invitation
to contribute in song at this event.
Postscript:
This writer would be beyond grateful for any advice on how to dispense with 649
jellybeans!!
By: Sue
Walker
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