Thanks to all m’verygoodfriends for their entirely compulsory attendance at the function to celebrate the anniversary of my birth 25 years ago, yesterday.

Now, however, it’s time to start spruking for a new event … Opera in the Vineyard in May.

Opera In the Vineyard is a charity event held during the May Day longweekend each year in May, organised by Ballandean Estate Winery and the Rotary Club of Stanthorpe.

The Major Beneficiary is the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane, and each year a range of other Queensland Charities benefit from the proceeds of the Opera. In 2003, $80,000 was raised during this spectacular one day event. This brings the total amount of funds distributed to Queensland Charities from Opera in the Vineyard to over $500,000 - a magnificent achievement by the Stanthorpe Rotary Club and Ballandean Estate Wines.

Over 2400 people attend the Opera concert each year with 1000 people seated for lunch and 1200 people attending the evening Gala Dinner Dance.
Booking are essential and are taken from mid-February each year. Accommodation in the area books out early, so be sure you arrange accommodation well before the opera.

The sensational artists in 2003 were:
Leanne Kenneally - Soprano
Teresa Fanning - Mezzo Soprano
David Hamilton - Tenor
Leon Warnock - Baritone
Ably accompanied by Kevin Power O.A.M. on Piano

The next Opera in the Vineyard will be MAY 2, 2004.

This year, from what I gather, we will catering our own lunch and dinner on the day, as this always works out better than the mass-catering that Ballandean is otherwise required to do. We head up on the first of May, and back on the 3rd.

Accomodation and tickets need to be sorted very soon … anyone who’s interested should get back to me ASAP. Thanks.

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