The cabaret was the culmination of a plan to present a community amateur cabaret since September 2003, and bit by bit it happened.

It has been a terrific community effort, and has been interesting to see it evolve.

A big thank you to all the entertainers, we did it.

We certainly offered a jam-packed three hour show with a wide variety of acts with an equally wide age range of entertainers from three years to 93 years.

I want to thank first and foremost the Bowling Club for their support with our rehearsals and making a great venue available for our show.

Many thanks to Merlie McCabe and Jill Reardon who have been enthusiastic and supportive of the cabaret from the beginning.

Thanks also to Paul Nelder of the Lightning Ridge Central School who characterised our MC, local miner "Joe" and of course my very enthusiastic assistant Kelly Gould who characterised "Ruby the Cleaning Lady".

Thanks also Vaughan Belle, the lady bowlers and the Lightning Ridge Day Centre.

Thank you Chris Callaghan and Janine Brown, not only for entertaining us but also for their expertise and support with sound equipment, and John McCabe who stepped in to do the stage lighting.

And thank you to our audiences who supported our enthusiastic and fantastic performers.

Entry was by gold coin donation.

The $420 raised in donations will go towards the Lightning Ridge Senior Day Centre to purchase furniture and equipment when they move into their own premises one day.

The Bowling Club has been their home each Wednesday for 10 years.

Christina Johansson

Facilitator, Community Servicese