Festival raises funds for charities

From L: Helen Williams from RACQ Careflight Rescue, Bryan Flemming, Rebecca Scollen from USQ Artsworx, and Stacey Harland from the Bryan Flemming Family Trust

Organisers of this year’s Shakespeare in the Park Festival are pleased to announce that over $4 000 was raised for charity during the season.

USQ Artsworx Manager, Dr Rebecca Scollen recently presented RACQ CareFlight Rescue and the Bryan Flemming Family Trust cheques for $2 255 courtesy of the Festival’s fundraiser evening on 11 March.

She explained that the two charities where an obvious choice.

'Bryan Flemming is a colleague who was paralysed in a serious motorcycle accident last year,' said Rebecca.

'As the Workplace Health and Safety Officer in the Faculty of Arts, he has been a key advisor on the setup and operation of the Festival.

'Bryan has always been incredibly enthusiastic and supportive of our productions and we felt it was an ideal opportunity for us to raise funds to assist his ongoing rehabilitation.

'And CareFlight was instrumental in the rescue of our friend and colleague and plays such a vital role in our community.'

Over two and a half thousand people enjoyed a different Festival experience during this year’s season.

'Once we realised the rain was set-in, Shakespeare in the Park was quickly transformed into Shakespeare in the Empire.

'We’ve been very fortunate in the past; six years of starry nights and balmy weather, so a wet year, especially at a time when our region so desperately needed rain, was on the cards.

'This has been a good test of the flexibility of the Festival – and might see us come back with some exciting new options in 2011!'

Contact Details:
Michelle Fox, USQ Artsworx, 074631 1114 or 0439 911 623