THE lush surrounds of Foxground will play host to a special concert in aid of a clinic in East Timor.
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The second open air Foxground Concert for Timor on Saturday, March 19 will help support the Bairo Pite Clinic in Dili, Timor-Leste.
The concert will take place at Joe Cato and wife Maura's property, Glengariff.
The performance will be held in a natural amphitheatre adjacent to a rainforest and with ocean views.
Acts will range from rock to classical and jazz, and feature performers from throughout the Illawarra and beyond.
Last year’s inaugural event drew 250 people and raised more than $40,000.
Mr Cato, a civil engineer, said he had been involved with the cause for more than seven years, after being asked to assist non-governmental organisation efforts to get a hospital up and running in Timor.
Bairo Pite Clinic Australia is an Australian not-for-profit company with the objective of supporting and enhancing Bairo Pite Clinic's delivery of healthcare.
“I've had a couple of trips over to Dili, just to have a look at things and give them a report on what my thoughts were in relation to the construction aspects of what they were looking at, at the time,” Mr Cato said.
“They were offered a site by the government of East Timor that was the original Portuguese hospital. It was in a fair state of disrepair, and had squatters living in it.
“It took a few years to organise the lease on this site from the government, and at the 11th hour the government said, 'we want this up-and-running in 18 months, otherwise forget it'.
“There's no way that could happen, because there was about a $20 million funding that we needed to raise before we could start."
Mr Cato said the organisation then re-focused, deciding to support the existing Dili clinic in the short to medium term.
“They were operating on a shoestring . . . The level of hygiene was pretty poor, the work ethic was pretty poor,” he said.
“We've been able to put some systems in place, fix up the infrastructure a little bit, get some staff in there with a bit of management experience to have it running considerably better than what it had been.”
The long-term goal is to still find a suitable site and seek major funding to build “a first-world hospital”.
Mr Cato said the proceeds from last year’s event were enough to sustain the current hospital for a month.
The 2016 concert will take place on Saturday, March 19 from 11am until evening at 130 Hoddles Road, Foxground.
The registered charity will receive 100 per cent of surplus funds.
“The challenge is out there to to do better than last year,” Mr Cato said.
Live entertainment will be provided by the likes of Paul Greene, Tessa Devine, Dynamic Lifters, Ken Potter (bush poet), Wollongong Stringed Quartet and Harry O’Brien.
There will also be a guest speaker and auction and raffle prizes including holidays.
The cost is $100 per ticket.
All drink (including wine and beer) is included in the ticket price.
Bring a picnic lunch, picnic rug, cushions, low chairs and stubby holders and maybe an umbrella just in case.
As there will be limited parking on-site, organisers ask that attendees car pool wherever possible.
Parking will be available adjacent to the RFS shed on Foxground Road to facilitate this.
Shuttle buses are being organised to run from the fire station.
For inquiries, phone Mr Cato on 4234 4272, 0400 421 610 or email jlcato3939@gmail.com.