New Baby Grand fills Cooran Hall with Music
April 2008

A baby grand piano bought from community donations is filling Cooran Hall with music since it was delivered in mid-April 2008.

A gala dinner concert at Berardo's Restaurant in Noosa Heads raised $6,800.

A cheque for that amount was handed to German baritone, Hans-Georg Wimmer, who performed at the glittering event.

Hans-Georg has spearheaded the drive to put baby grands into Cooran and the Indee Theatre in Eumundi. He has won international acclaim, performs regularly at music festivals throughout Europe and is a member of the Berlin Chamber Opera Company. Hans-Georg lives in Germany but spends a few months each year at his holiday house on the Sunshine Coast.

Patrons paid $150 a head for the concert and dinner on 9 April and additional funds raised on the night from live and silent auctions will go towards the Eumundi piano.

"The live and silent auction items comprised entirely donated goods from many amazing Hinterland businesses that kindly wanted to support this cause," commented Helen Barber of Tewantin-based Riverliving & Hinterliving Magazines, which supported the fundraising drive with publicity and ticketing.

"The generosity of the community has really warmed our hearts," she wrote.

Some leftover auction items from the first event were auctioned at the first performances with the new piano in Cooran on April 19th and 20th.

"Hinterliving is committed to the growth of the Hinterland's creative community and we are very humbled by the response we have had from our advertisers and readers," wrote Helen.

Noosa Community Radio has also been supporting the baby grands campaign with publicity.

   
Left: Heated bidding during the auction by Lew & Marie Brennan
Right: Bruce Hamilton from 101.3FM takes to the mic

Huguette Brassine entertains

Presenting the cheque for $6,800

Jim Berardo, Jonette Wilton from Hinterliving and Mark Rodriquez, President of 101.3FM

Sherry Corcoran (left) from 101.3FM with two other guests

Geraldine and Len Daddow
(101.3FM thank Daddow Motors for being a sponsor of the station)