Year 11 St Margaret’s student Emily Curr – the driving force behind the successful high school campdraft competition, now into its third year – has again seen a need, had an idea and is making it happen.
Emily, from Yelvertoft Station, north west of Mt Isa, has organised a Flood Relief Charity Luncheon to be held in the Julia Creek town hall this Sunday 5 May.
Emily said with all the campdraft competitions in the area being cancelled in the wake of the floods early in 2019, there were fewer opportunities where the community could meet up to both socialise and support one another.
Emily said initially the idea was just a small luncheon to give people in the community a chance to come together, have something to look forward to and help sustain one another through what has been a devastating time for everyone in the region.
Her own family who owns two properties in the Julia Creek area lost 70 per cent of the 5000 head of cattle who were grazing on those properties at the time of the floods.
“I saw how much it effected my Dad and I thought it would be beneficial if we could hold an event where everyone could come together, have the opportunity to talk to others and just enjoy the camaraderie of the whole community,” Emily said.
The idea has grown to the point where 250 tickets have been sold for a very nominal $20 (for a three-course meal and drinks), and celebrities have such as Alan Jones, singer Mark Vincent (runner up on Australian Idol), rugby league legend Billy Moore, and Hugh Bowman, jockey of the iconic Winx, who will be the guest speaker, are attending.
Hugh Bowman is no stranger to the region having worked for family friends of the Currs when he was just 16.
Alan Jones from radio 2GB had been keeping in touch with Mr Curr regarding the floods and bringing it to national attention through his morning breakfast program and wanted to travel to Julia Creek to support the luncheon.
The event has also attracted sponsorship and support from many areas, including Teys Australia, Suncorp, Northern Rural Group, St Margaret’s, Panda Pearls and Sisters of the North. If anyone would like to support the flood affected community of North West Queensland, they can still do so by donating to Sisters of the North through their gofundme page https://au.gofundme.com/sisters-of-the-north-nq-flood-relief