MORE than $20,000 was raised when Ocean Grove rocked for Parkinson’s during two nights of sell out shows.
The third annual Light of Day Australia shows featured more than 20 artists including regular Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band saxophone player Eddie Manion, a reunion of Chris Wilson and Diesel, Mike Rudd and Spectrum, Mark Lang of Skipping Girl Vinegar and Evangeline.
The shows were held over two nights at the Piping Hot Chicken and Burger Grill, the Driftwood Cafe and the Olive Pit Deli.
Light of Day Australia chairperson Richard Grimmett said: “To see the Light of Day Winter Gigs become a sellout success in just three years is fantastic.”
A highlight of the shows was the increased awareness about Parkinson’s disease.
The shows raise money that is equally split between the Shake It Up Foundation and the Light of Day Foundation.
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurological condition only to Alzheimers in Australia, and the organisers are working to secure long-term funding from government to reflect that.
Strong collaboration between Parkinson’s organisations in Australia prompted Parkinson’s Australia CEO Steve Sant to travel from Canberra especially to be and speak at the shows.
Richard said: “This means that more people will understand Parkinson’s Disease and increased awareness will surely lead to increased funding and much-needed specialist home care, seriously lacking in Victoria.”
Other musicians rocking out included Steve McEwan and the Yesmen, Dave Wright and Midnight Electric, Sarah Carroll, Luke Legs, Craig Horne and Friends, Gallie, Victoriana Gaye and Jeff Raglus, Sassy Soul Sisters, Ukulele Carnivale, Wayne Heard, Andrea Robertson and Friends and Brooke Allen and Sam Walsh.
“This is about far more than great music; it is about funding and provision of specialist care for people with Parkinson’s in their own homes, like my mum and dad. It is about the cost of Parkinson’s to the community increasing as 32 people are diagnosed in Australia per day,” Richard said.
Richard said that the Light of Day Australia organisers are immensely grateful to the those that came along and supported the event, the musicians who generously donated their time to perform at the shows and the sponsors which included KYO, Ocean Breeze Dental, Southern Bay Brew Co, Bellarine Memories, Barwon Grove Holiday Rentals as well as Airstream Annie, Top Cat Signs and Designs, Creative Force, 4D Surfboards, Oakene, Grove Books, Paxton Press, Sea Road Ferries, Coastal Kombies, Home Hardware, Surfing Vic and Bellarine Audio.
The Saturday night show was wrapped up when Eddie Manion left halfway through a rocking Dave Wright and the Midnight Electric Show in the Driftwood and crossed the street to the Chicken Shop to join resident closing act the Bash Big Band for three Springsteen songs, including the anthem to the shows – Light of Day.
A surfboard kindly donated by a couple of generous locals was also raffled and won during the event along with other prizes.
Next year’s shows will be on 21 and 22 July. For more details see www.lightofdayaustralia.com
