By KATH GANNAWAY
THE serenity that usually surrounds the bushland setting of the Reefton Hotel was rocked on Sunday as locals and visitors celebrated Australia Day with sunshine and music.
Hotel owner Karyn Gadsby took up the challenge of hosting the annual Reefton Rocs fundraiser, previously run by the local CFA.
Karyn said she decided to run with the event and hold it on Australia Day in memory of her partner Gerard Pol who tragically passed away last May during a holiday in Botswana.
While the day was one of mixed emotions for Karyn, Gerard’s brothers Amos and Eddie, and the many friends who made their way to Reefton for the event, it was a celebrated with great music, dancing, good food and drink and lots of laughter – the way he would have liked it.
Melbourne musician Wilbur Wilde joined the local ‘Yarra River Band’ and had a bewildered crowd on their feet demanding they stand for the National Anthem. The bewilderment changed to spontaneous applause as ‘Eagle Rock’ blasted out from the stage.
The pace ramped up another notch as local youth band M F Jones took to the stage introducing a new wave of rock to the mix.
Karyn said she wanted to ensure the future of the event which had provided a great opportunity for locals and visitors to get together since the Black Saturday bushfires. Funds raised this year will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation which she said was a cause close to Gerard’s heart.
