Golden Stave cancelled
After 37 years, the annual Golden Stave Gala Charity Dinnerwon’t be going ahead next Friday (June 19).
The Board of Trustees of The Golden Stave Foundation has cited “disappointing” ticket sales as the reason.
“Support has crumbled this year on many levels apart from our die-hard supporters, meaning that the event would be unsustainable,” said the Foundation’s General Manager Larry Warren.
Warren met with the Foundation’s Chairman Graham Fear AM and its Trustees the Hon. Peter Anderson, Peter Hebbes AM, Shaun James, Maryanne Knight, Mick Mazzone, Richard Wilkins AM and Lucy Turnbull AO last night to discuss the event’s future.
“[…] We stand just one week out with disappointing sales. Had we proceeded there was the likely outcome the event may have lost money, eroding funds we already have on hand for distribution to the numerous charities we support,” said Chairman Graham Fear.
“Our clear policy and charter has always been and always will be to raise funds with the least possible expense to care for kids and their needs,” Fear added. “We are in fact very proud of the tight infrastructure of overheads that we as Trustees govern in order to maximise the annual distribution of net funds.”
The Foundation assures the industry that this isn't the end for the Golden Stave, it's merely a necessary hiatus to continue supporting the over 50 NSW Children’s charities it's supported since 1979.
“This does not mean for one minute that the long and very proud history of The Golden Stave Foundation will not continue,” said Chairman Graham Fear. “Indeed the Trustees believe that to preserve the legacy of so many hard working men and women over the past 37 historical years we will regroup and reconsider a different format for the times going forward.”
The 37th annual Fundraising Gala was due to be held next Friday (June 19) at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion. Its live lineup included alt-pop singer-songwriter/producer Andy Bull, Golden Guitar female Artist of the Year/CMC Australian Artist of the Year Amber Lawrence, ‘90s personality Effie, rock icons Dragon and Shannon Noll.
The news is especially disappointing for the event given its push toward a new direction this year. Social Family Records Owner Jake Challenor was invited by LarryWarrento join the fundraiser committee last year as part of a refreshed mission to educate the ‘new school’ players about the Golden Stave’s importance.
Challenor told TMN last month: “[The long-term plan] is also about educating the wider music industry about the good work that Golden Stave does that enables other organisations that might not get access to these kinds of funds with their own limited resources to fundraise.”
Ticket holders will be refunded at point of purchase.