Xmas charity concert for Ocean
The large lawn under the trees at Lexham Park is an ideal backdrop for a Christmas Charity Concert planned for December 9.
Hosted by Lexham Park and the RSA Homewood Trust, the event brings the community together and is a fundraiser for Waihi youngster, Ocean Stephen, who has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. The Waihi community and others helped raise $150,000 for Ocean to have surgery in July in Missouri, USA.
As treatment will be ongoing, Ken Allen, who lives in an RSA unit in Binnie Road, said he would like to help Ocean and her mother, Kirsten Waite. He came up with the idea of a charity concert and approached Raewyn Stollery from Lexham Park initially and then manager Julie Turnbull. Julie said the idea Ken brought was a great initiative.
“We jumped in because you get the Coca Cola in the Park picture of people coming together, sitting on a picnic blanket with a variety of acts and having family fun. Holding the concert here at Lexham means our residents can participate.
“For some it is too difficult to go out, so we’re bringing the community to us.”
Ken has been instrumental in rallying support and has put in many hours arranging entertainment, which has all been donated, extra parking and for the money collected from the gold coin gate entry, to go to Ocean, she said.
“This is a charitable show and I want to make sure it goes off extremely well to combine juniors together with seniors,” Ken said.
Mabel Wharekawa Burt will MC the concert, with the Katikati College kapa haka group and Matahui School children’s choir among the entertainers.
Santa will arrive at 5pm and with the children’s choir will walk through Lexham Park bringing festive cheer and singing Christmas carols.
Ken said when they have finished, Ocean, who will be dressed as a fairy, will be put onto a double mobility scooter with Santa to travel to the stage on the front lawn for the concert.
Harvey Norman donated six footballs for spot prizes and a few college students will be walking around sharing lollies and marshmallow Santas for the elderly.
Julie said it will be a well organised show.
“People can sit on the front lawn with their picnic baskets. We’ll have a coffee cart on site and some porta loos. We’re hoping people will walk to the concert.”
A group of elderly people are expected from Athenree Lifecare. Extra parking has been arranged in a paddock on Beach Road.