AUSSIE

Blog entry posted March 17th, 2009 by Tim Ryan

Hi everybody,

As you may or may not know the AUSSIE consultants banded together to have a BIG fundraising event last Saturday in support of the devastation caused by the Australian Bushfires that have been blazing recently. The evening comprised a cocktail reception, silent auction and memorable consultant “amateur hour” performances to raise over $16,000 and help some small bush Australian schools devastated by the recent tragedy. 

How wonderful that so MANY people in our company decided that it was worth their time, effort and scarce financial resources to come and have a big night together and help us all raise dollars for school recovery projects in the Kinglake area north of Melbourne.

The mood was set beautifully by Judy Griffith’s arresting descriptions of her and her friends recent experiences of the fires when interviewed in the morning session of the consultant professional development by Rob Oliver. Later in mid-afternoon, Chris Egian shared some heart-wrenching slides with us as a segue to the Fundraiser at the end of the internal PD component …. Trust me you have you never heard silence like that at an AUSSIE event before.

A picture tells a thousand words and the over 500 photos taken at the event tell an energetic and entertaining story of what a success the afternoon and evening was. Some of the most notable entertainers for the night were the wonderful Bag Lady (thanks Stella Pullo!), the Return of Rapper Mike Dumbleton (Yo Bro!), the Great Debaters ….. or should we say modern-day anarchists and don’t give up your day job Frank Schoonderbeek!! ….. (Anne Stafford, Bill Richardson, Cecilia Mechan and Brian Green for the Literacy team and Frank, Peter Dubno, Rick Swan and Maria Hudson for the math team), our leaders in song (Noel Ridge, Paul Ledwidge, Leonie Dodd and Keeley) and Barry Warren’s mate Lofty Longden’s great call of the All-Australian Stakes …..  all working like clockwork with Chris Lowery, Rob Oliver, and Bill Richardson helping us out with compering, music and video. 

A special mention to Sue Morris, Cecilia Mechan and Jude Warren and many friends drew the great response for our silent auction, which was superbly organized and raised funds far in excess of our dreams. Bill and Annette Zuidland, Di Ryan, Helen Egan, Nicola Goodwin, Julie Ditton, Gloria Alago, Colleen, Brigid Lambert, Elizabeth Cook, Gina Scala, Jeff Vohden, Max Greenwood and Carol Pearce all contributed to various parts of our publicity, bookings, wine-sales, ticketing and accounting work to spread the workload among such a great group of committed people. I just hope I have not forgotten anyone … but “pitching in” is what we do and thank you so much for any help you personally gave.

The Mob (our fundraiser committee) would like to thank major sponsors AxisForex, AUSSIE PD, New York painter and sculptor Allen David, Moet Hennessy, Bill and Annette Zuidland, and all our friends among the AUSSIE staff, customers and colleagues who gave of their time, effort and money. We will be sure to post another blog to let everyone know our strategy from here to assist the school communities devastated by this terrible event.

If you'd still like to make a donation to this worthily cause you can do so by contacting Dianne Ryan (201) 626-6532 or by emailing bushfiremob [at] gmail [dot] com

 --Tim Ryan, AUSSIE Consultant