Flood concert venue flooded

By Bridget Brady
IT’S irony at its finest.
The Casey Cares charity concert organised to raise money for flood victims has had to be moved – after the venue was flooded on Friday.
The concert was due to be held this weekend at the new River Gum Performing Arts Centre in Hampton Park, but the weekend’s deluge has forced its relocation to the Cranbourne Community Theatre.
Casey councillor Wayne Smith, who organised the event to raise money for Victorian and Queensland flood victims, said there was minimal damage to the centre.
Cr Smith said the main reason the concert has been moved was the extensive damage to the grounds at Hampton Park Secondary College, where the performing arts centre is located.
“There is some wet carpet in the foyer, but the theatre is fine,” Cr Smith said. “It’s ironic. Here we are raising funds for floods and we are flooded ourselves. But everyone’s taken it in good humour.”
The concert will feature some of the best talent in Casey, including 2010 X-Factor finalist Madison Pritchett, Jessica-Jade Bruce, Andrew Swift, Revati Ilanka the Casey Choir and Chris Sebastian, the brother of Australia Idol star Guy Sebastian. The concert will be held at 7.30pm on Saturday. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/LCD. The Cranbourne Community Theatre is located on Brunt Street.