Local residents and businesses affected by the recent floods will be able to apply for a grant from the monies raised at the recent Flood and Fire concert.

Dr Paul Inglis, convenor of a team of twenty local people who managed to pull together, in three weeks, one of Dayboro’s best nights, described the $30,000 plus raised as only one example of the way in which our community has turned a disaster into a victory.  There has been a huge coming together of people from all walks of life to provide resources, personal support, financial help, physical assistance and moral support and this will go on for some time.
Dayboro Apex, Lions, the Churches, the School, Pine Rivers Rotary, businesses, many of our own very talented entertainers, comperes, auctioneers, cooks and caterers, accountants and technicians made a contribution to the concert’s success.
Col and Mary McKavanagh have been the beneficiaries of a substantial part of the money.  Because they received a considerable amount of furniture and appliances from the Manager of North Lakes Retirement centre, they very kindly accepted $10,000 from the concert takings which will allow more flood victims to be beneficiaries.  The Flood and Fire web site www.floodandfire2011.com.au has details of how to apply for a grant or how to nominate someone to receive a grant.  Affected residents and businesses are invited to apply.
The major sponsors of the Flood and Fire event were: Samford Progress and Protection Association, Pine Rivers Rotary, D Pearce Constructions, B and L Costelloe, Dayboro Apex, ECO by Design, Dayboro Lions, Ark Activewear and Art Print, Dayboro Uniting Church, Dayboro Catholic Church, Ocean View Estates, Seath Hoslwich, Dayboro Grapevine, and North Lakes Retirement Village.
Significant support came from:  Dayboro State School and P & C, Dirty Boots Design, Dayboro Butchers, Darrtam Print Solutions, Dayboro ECU, Maya Maze Gifts, Rendezvous Café, Dr David Sawdon, D and A Pickering, Dayboro/Samford Cricket Club, Marj Barnett, Brian Crane, Alpine Electrical, Dayboro Party Hire, Tom’s Law Personal and Group Training.
Valuable auction items were given by: Ian Healey (a cricket bat signed by the Australian team), Madeleine Brown Jewellery (brooch), Ocean View Estate Winery (accommodation and meal), Joy French (painting), Robbie Marshall (autographed jersey), Platypus Furniture (coffee table in shape of Australia),  Iain McLean - Your Physio (Queensland Reds Jersey and Bulls cricket bat signed by the teams).
Raffle prizes were provided by:  Ocean View Estate Winery, Carolyn Male MP, Cross Country Tours, S Hansson Electrical, Seath Holswich, Cr Bob Millar, Linda Z Mobile PT, Brett Campbell, The Coffee Club Strathpine, Dayboro Rodeo Association, Party Lite, LEAD Childcare Dayboro, Doreen Spillman, Ryle Winn, Earth Link, Dayboro Acupuncture and Massage and several others who gave gifts during the concert.
Having an artefact of this event and something to show others is still possible.  There are some commemorative calendars available at Dayboro Cottage in Williams Street and Heather McKenzie also has supplies of the iconic Flood and Fire T Shirt.  She can be contacted at:
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or 3425 1987 for both of these items.
The concert program opened with a creative routine by the Dayboro State School Years 3 and 4 students presenting their Rain Dance and “Here Comes the Sun”.
One highlight of the evening was the very entertaining auction conducted by Dale Tokely who has been the compere of many Dayboro Day parades.  Dale, not only, drew out the wallets, he managed to have the audience enthralled at his skill and humour.
Sixteen year old guitarist, Jake Wilkie, was the outstanding young talent of the night with his exciting and innovative work on the electric guitar.  We understand he will feature now on Dayboro Day also.
Comperes, Heather Foord and Luke Mellers, were very relaxed with their home town audience with Luke showing singing and ‘dancing’ talent many were not aware of. Heather’s professional skills came to the fore many times as she carried the program through some tight spots.
Sharryn Bell, The Bluegrass Boys, and Rob Black, were the feature artists.  Other great performers were the clowns Peebo and Dagwood, classical pianist Coral Keogh with Dominic Cirrani on the violin.
Helen Rhue’s redoubtable catering skills were demonstrated with a fabulous menu that fed the crowd before the concert and the Apex bar was clearly one very popular location for many locals.  Helen was aided by a big team of volunteers from the school, churches and community.  While guests were eating, Isabel Clarke played quietly and beautifully on the harp.  Liz Laur coordinated the huge number of raffle items and liaised with the school staff who provided an excellent video backdrop of historic and contemporary flood slides.  Official photographers, Joanne Hohns and Tim Harlow have provided a wonderful record of the evening which will help with telling the story beyond our community and eventually be placed in Dayboro’s history archives.
Lexie Bell, with the experience of many years of stage managing Dayboro Day entertainment, brought these skills to the concert and kept it on track.  Her daughter, country singer, Sharryn Bell, was a huge strength to the planning team, drawing on her singing talent, graphic art business and many connections to the entertainment industry.  The planning team and anyone else are invited to a reunion at the Dayboro Hotel on Friday 1st April when Sharryn will be the guest artist.
Let’s hope we don’t have to do this sort of thing again, but if we do, there is no doubt the Dayboro community will pull together and make a good show of it.