TWO former Australian Idol contestants headlined Rosies – Friends on the Street Family Variety Concert at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane on May 13.
Dan England and Anne Robertson joined the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra and Canterbury College Cantabile at the free community event to benefit victims of Cyclone Larry.
About 450 people heard a message of support to open the show from Rosies co-patron, General Peter Cosgrove, who is overseeing the reconstruction project in the devastated area, read by past president Bev Watkinson.
The concert raised about $2000 that will be sent north to help feed and clothe the homeless.
A sea of glow sticks swayed across the amphitheatre as family unity was celebrated and the importance of community spirit for people in Innisfail was acknowledged.
The concert, produced by Vavachi Classical Occasions musical director Leslie Martin, featured music for everyone’s taste, from The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera, from Fiddler on the Roof and performances by the former Australian Idol contestants.
The event also helped bring together the generations to celebrate the International Day of Families on May 15.
Rosies operations manager Gary Parsons said the organisation aimed to help those left homeless in far north Queensland after Cyclone Larry.
He said the event was also an opportunity for Rosies to demonstrate to the community the work more than 400 volunteers did to help the homeless across Queensland for the past 19 years.
Rosies youth outreach has been operating in five regions across Queensland and the Cairns outreach has been operating for the past three years.
