It’s about wine and all that jazz

– Elizabeth Moorhead on work experience

Any day that live jazz meets fine wine promises to be a good one, but the Rotary Club of Gerringong Sunrise has gone one better by adding a little goodwill to the mix.

The Crooked River Winery in Gerringong will be abuzz on Sunday to the lively sounds of The Les Crosby Show Band and the smells of a gourmet barbecue for the Rotary Jazz In The Wines festival.

The event is one of the major fundraisers for the club this year, with money raised going towards the Kiama-East Timor Project, supporting the Red Cross Foundation and the aid of an orphanage in Uganda.

“With so many good causes, we felt we really had to split the money three ways,” Marg Hyslop of Gerringong Rotary Club said.

The club aims to support local groups with big ideas. Since Kiama woman Christine McAlpine, 19, returned from a year working at an orphanage in Uganda, Rotary has endeavoured to support the Africa Greater Life Mission.

“The Wakiso Children’s School of Hope in Uganda is what we think of as an orphanage, and most of the children there are the orphans of AIDS,” Jazz In The Wines Committee chairman Jeff Quine said.

“It’s a special cause. The Kiama Zumali Friendship Group, which has travelled to East Timor a few times already, is doing great work too.”

Some of the money raised will help the Red Cross in Gerringong to cope with the ageing population of the area. The event will run from 11am to 3pm on Sunday.

There is an entry fee of $10, which does not include food or wine.

Bookings for the gourmet barbecue are essential. It will cost $20 for adults and $10 for children. Bookings can be made by phoning 4234 0976.

If you’re not hungry enough for lunch, drinks and snacks will be available from the Rotary Club-run bar.

A raffle will also be held on the day. First prize is a dinner for two donated by Crooked River Winery.

A courtesy bus will operate between Gerringong Town Hall, Gerringong Station and Crooked River Winery every 30 mintues from 11am.