By TANIA PHILLIPS
COME along for what could be one last chance to enjoy the Granite Belt Dance Club’s popular senior citizens event at Stanthorpe Civic Centre from 1.30pm on Saturday.
After 30 years of organising the Concert for Seniors, the Granite Belt Dance Club may be making this year’s concert their last.
Granite Belt Dance Club president Jenel Hunt said the increase in hall hire costs meant that the group would no longer be able to afford to host the event at the Civic Centre in coming years.
“We use the Civic Centre because of the disabled facilities, as it’s important to us that people from the nursing home and both Carramars be able to join the more able-bodied seniors for the event. But recently the Civic Centre hire rate trebled and even with a discount for a not-for-profit organisation, we’ll be unable to afford the rent next year.
“The artists are wonderful and give of their time and talents for no charge and despite the costs associated with the hire of the hall and the afternoon tea that we provide, we’ve always presented this concert as a completely free events; so as you can imagine, the tripling of the hall hire is quite momentous for our little group.”
The event will feature Mario Costanzo with his country music, talented guitarist and crooner Lee Williams, John Arlidge of Whiskey Gully fame and beloved folk duo Roger Ilott and Penny Davies, who always share some of their wonderful musical stories that bring alive the personality of inner Australia.
This is a popular event on the seniors’ calendar, so is not to be missed. This year there’s an even bigger reason to make sure you come along and enjoy the concert.
The afternoon includes a couple of short brackets of social dancing so that people know what sort of dances the social dance club does at The Summit Hall on Thursday nights.
It’s rounded off with a big afternoon tea which is well known among people who have attended the concert in past years. Sandwiches, slices, scones, biscuits and the plates just keep coming out.
So come along for a great afternoon of entertainment, absolutely free. You can’t get better than that.
