Front: Ten-year-olds Neve Underwood, Suri Hannagan Wood, Amali Nizam-Wood, Ellah-Rae Warne and Miranda Ireland). Back: Anna Thomson and Lydia Little, both 10 Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany Advertiser
The cavernous pavilion on the Albany Agricultural Society’s grounds was filled with spirited conversation and barbecue smoke on Saturday night as the community marked its eighth Big Sleep Out.
The cheerful crowd enjoyed burgers flipped by the Rapid Relief team and sausages sizzled by volunteers from organiser Albany Community Foundation.
Families and students from Great Southern Grammar huddled around small fires with mouths full of meat and bread as the winter sun set over the oval.
After a fireside chat with spotlight organisation Pivot Support Services’ Ian Neil and Siobhain Scanlon chaired by ACF vice-chair Jeremy Stewart, the total fundraising amount of about $40,000 was announced, including $10,453 from 10-year-old Amali Nizam-Wood and $8758 from the Merrifield Real Estate team.
Brave Amali, sleeping out for her sixth year in a row, then shaved her head to cheers from the crowd before the band Grammar Crew took to the stage, playing covers from Amy Winehouse to ABBA, followed by Delroy Bergsma with acoustic folk.
Mr Neil said the annual fundraising event was something Albany should be proud of.
“Don’t think that this is normal, this is unique, and it is reflective of the community that you are a part of,” he said.
Front: Tara Stewart, 2, Felix Little, 2, and Lydia Little, 10. Middle: Ellie Murnane, 7, Ava Mu, 5, and Ellah-Rae Warne, 10. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany Advertiser16-year-olds Ewan Layden, Owen Baxter-Holland, Lillian Burgess, Grace Franzinelli, Shayla Filipowski, Abbey Sugg and Isaac Moane. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserFront: Valentina D’Antonio, 9, Ebony Tabb-Edwards, Gemma Morrison who raised about $620, Paige Varea. Back: Chanel Loscalzo, 8, Antonella Erba and Ashley Ismail. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany Advertiser
Front: Will Dal Pozzo, 16, Ella Belfield, 16, and Tiffany Butterworth, 17. Back: Ben Thomas, 16, and Talon Lee, 16. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserFelix Little, 2, leading on percussion for the Albany Shantyman. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserNyree Mackenzie, Ella Mackenzie, 16, Sara Eastough, 17, and Kyal Rose. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserEssie Wood, Jove Hannagan-Wood, 11, Bryn Hannagan-Wood, 15, and Dave Underwood. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserAnthony Csermelyi, Charlie Csermelyi, 11, Ava Csermelyi, 9, Darcy Griffith, 9, Julie Dejong, and Flynn Griffith, 12. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserFront: Lashontae Michael, 9, and Sarah Williams. Back: Dianne Williams. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserFront: Alison Williams and John Williams, 9,. Back: Bevan Williams, 9. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserMitch Cameron, 16, Koby Hams, 16, and Sara Eastough, 17. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany Advertiser
Rodney Willmott, Kerry Sycamore and Suzy Wray. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserVanessa Bray, Nathan Bray and Christina Taylor. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserJosh Delarue and Sam Kinkade Maddison. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserMax Moir, 5, and Sarah Moir. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserKate Houderrani and Zahrah Houderrani, 15. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserRod Pfeiffer and Vivian Caton (Foodbank). Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserTina Edwards Pope and Helen Ryda (Palmerston). Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany AdvertiserThe crowd applauds 10-year-old Amali Nizam-Wood as the final section of her hair is shaved off. Credit: Eliza Kavanagh/Albany Advertiser
