16 February 2009

Concerts raise funds for Sydney poor

Malcolm Rea/Record staff
Epping, New South Wales

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in the Greater Sydney region has successfully organised sacred Concerts in Sydney and Bowral, raising funds for some of Sydney's poor.

Concerts in Wahroonga and Bowral recently raised over $2,600 with more funds coming in. Almost $10,000 was raised by sacred concerts last year.

Chris Le Roux, a musician based in Melbourne and concert co-ordinator for the last 11 years says, "I am passionate about trying to help people who are less fortunate than I am. People who are on drugs and experiencing abuse. I can't personally help them so that's why I have done this through ADRA."

The fundraising concerts assisted the ADRA Community Centre in to Blacktown provide free support to the addicted, abused and vulnerable in Western Sydney.

The concerts featured international musicians Yola Mielczarek, Benjamin Slade and Shu-Cheen Yu and national artists Soyan Eastham, Graham Fletcher, Floris Howard, Natasha Knopper, Daniel Lee, Chris Le Roux, Rina Maidment, Dan Roy, Lisel Scheman, Linley Tolhurst, Dallas Wilson, "Outreach," a male quartet, and the Parramatta Adventist Church choir.

"On behalf of the poor in Western Sydney, I would like to express heartfelt thanks to Chris for arranging the concerts again this year, and the musicians who gave so generously of their time and talent," says Malcolm Rea, director of ADRA in the Greater Sydney region.

More about ADRA.