‘Warm Hearts, Deep Love!’ concert in Melbourne raises over Rs. 1.2 m for SL flood victims

Congratulations to Derrick Junkeer for a mammoth effort undertaken to organise a charity event for those Sri Lankans stricken by the recent floods and landslides that affected many families. Not an easy job to get the 100% co-operation Derrick J received from the great line up of artistes he had for the concert and all this was done in a space of just two weeks!

The venue was ‘The Grand’ in Cathies Lane, Wantirna, Victoria. The three-course meal served to the tables was delectable. Alcoholic drinks were at bar prices. On the tables were unlimited jugs of lemonade and fresh juice. It was so good to learn at the end of the afternoon’s event that the venue and all staff gave their services voluntarily on a Sunday afternoon! All the artistes gave freely of their gifted talents – this in itself indicating the respect and honour they shared for the master organiser Derrick Junkeer and the reason for the event. To all those who attended and purchased their tickets for $35 per person – an enjoyable afternoon was achieved! Prizes for the Raffles were phenomenal – return flights to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, dinner for a table of eight to an Italian restaurant to the value of $400 – an indication of the value of some of the prizes all gifted for the event!

The tickets, the posters and the raffle tickets and all advertising artworks for social media were designed by Ishan Bahar in Sri Lanka, free-of-charge and printed by a local Sri Lankan printer Ajith Jayathileka of VicMark at no cost! This is the extent of the incredible network of co-operation Derrick Junkeer encountered in his tireless efforts to put on today’s charity event! Well done Derrick J!

Special thanks to all who came on-board for the sake of our unfortunate brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. To Victor De Silva, Romaine Ferdinands of Jet Travel & Cruise and Alex Cooray from Alexander Media for air ticket to Sri Lanka and Sampath the General Manager of the Galadari for accommodation in Sri Lanka, Nari from Aussie Knox & Rowville for the air ticket to New Zealand, Brindley Perera from Just Energy for an air ticket to Sri Lanka, Sampath Siriwardena, General Manager, Galadari – Colombo for accommodation in Sri Lanka, Warren J for the lighting Il Casolare for the pizza demonstration and for donating a ‘Dinner for 8’ at the restaurant, Mahendras Food Ltd. for the special ‘bites’ and Isuru and Jude for their time and technical expertise. 

As Kerrigan Labrooy who opened the concert quipped before his second song, “This really reminds us of why we are here today. We are here for a very worthy cause. If you think about it. We have a roof over our heads, we have food on our table, we have our family, we have a place to sleep...there are people there in Sri Lanka who have no food, no roof, no water and that’s why we are here...” This said it all, followed by Rob Foenander, and Terry McCloud. To break the great music came a presentation from the Chef of Il Casolare, The Italian Restaurant who gave us a demo of how he spins his Pizza Base – overhead, under leg, behind his back. He went on to show off his talents! It is his restaurant that gifted a raffle prize to the value for ‘Dinner for 8’. This was followed by Andrea Maar, who was excellent and a real showbiz personality, Jazz style. Then came the newest heart throb to hit the Australian stage, Jude J with his renditions of Englebert hits; followed by a pot-pourri of music from the Australian musicians: Marcia Rae with her Patsy Cline songs, two Elvis impersonators, Marcus Elvis and Peter Elvis of Greek lineage of the “King’s” songs, Joe Piastrino a Roy Orbison tribute entertainer and finally our own Derrick J closing with “My Way”.

It was a spectacular afternoon enjoyed by all who attended with a sit-down lunch to match.

The net collection was Rs. 1,700,000 of which a major portion was donated to the Bishop of Ratnapura, to help the people in the most affected district during the recent floods in Sri Lanka and to the Lions Club of Hendala for their relief efforts.