Co-op News
From "Maple Street Co-op News", December 2007/January 2008
Harry's As Happy As Larry
By Leigh Robshaw
Every now and then, a special event happens in Maleny that reminds
us all just how caring and supportive this community can be. The fundraiser
for Harry Whitehouse, Licensee of The UpFront Club (among other community
roles), was one of those unforgettable evenings.
The Club was buzzing, as droves of Harry-fans and friends eagerly
awaited the arrival of the man himself. When Harry finally arrived
on the arm of Carmel Givens and saw the crowd gathered, his smile
could have lit up the town.
"It was overwhelming," said Harry later. "I thought there must have
been a different function on as well. I was thunderstruck. I hadn't
realised the support was that widespread. I'm glad it happened before
I died and not afterwards!"
Auctioneer for the night, Paul Lawler, took the stage dressed as a
(very believable) gnome, and proceeded to auction off a large variety
of artworks, collectables, curios and services, donated by dozens
of community members, with style and pizazz. He was assisted by the
lovely Lisa McDonald. A big thanks goes out to both Paul and Lisa
for their contributions to the night.
Maleny's much-relied upon musicians entertained the merry crowd, raffle
tickets sold at an alarming rate, and the Club did a roaring trade
in meals and drinks.
The purpose of the evening was to raise money to help Harry move into
Ben Bryce Park Retirement Village. He not only received enough to
get himself well set up, he also had money left over to buy a motorised
four-wheel scooter. True to Harry's quirky sense of humour, he's even
raised a pirate flag on the back!
The total amount of money raised was an incredible $8,619.75! This
amount far exceeded anyone's expectations, including Harry's.
"I thought we'd raise $2000 or $3000, but it was well in excess of
that. It enabled me to make the arrangements with Ben Bryce Park,
and buy my scooter as well. It's a degree of comfort I haven't been
used to for many years. Having my own transport makes a big difference."
Does Harry miss his hitchhiking days? "No! People were very helpful
[in giving lifts] and some of them were very long-standing, and I
miss that sort of compansionship. But it must have been a bit of a
burden for them.
"I find it very difficult to say how grateful I am. It was unexpected
and it gave me a terrific boost. I hope it did the same to people
who took part." The generosity of spirit shown to Harry proves the
truth of the wise old saying: 'As you sow, so shall you reap.' Harry
has contributed a great deal to our community, not least of which
was the donation of the stunning land surrounding and including Gardners
Falls for the whole community to enjoy.
While the success of Harry's fundraiser was a community effort, a
special thank you goes to Sarah Castaldi, the principle organiser
of the night. Sarah spent weeks organising the fundraiser, approaching
businesses and community members for donations, and ensuring the evening
ran smoothly.
Said Sarah: "I would just like to say that we all got together and
in our own ways helped Harry Whitehouse, one of our elders, to have
a safe and more secure future. Thanks so much to everyone for your
community spirit and respect for Harry."
[From "Maple Street Co-op News", December 2007/January 2008; published
by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street, Maleny,
Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au,
website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]