Since a group of locals knocked the idea off back in 2006 to hold a Dancing Under the Stars fundraiser, it’s collectively raised more than $150,000 for local charities.
Based on the Channel 7 TV show, Dancing with the Stars, local dancer John de Bruin has been involved in the fundraiser since its inception.
John is now getting ready to present Cobar’s 7th Dancing Under the Stars fundraiser next month at the Cobar Bowling & Golf Club.
This year there are six couples vying for the coveted mirror ball prize: Simone Neyland (partnered by John de Bruin); Colette Cohen (partnered by Wayne Phillips); Chris Deighton (partnered by Seigrid Peters); Mick Cavalot (partnered by Ness Cavalot); Greg McKervey (partnered by Amie Hill); and Emily Miller will also be dancing but is keeping under wraps who her partner is.
The first event in 2006 had eight couples competing for the coveted mirror ball and raised $12,520 for the Lilliane Brady Village (LBV) Bus Appeal.
Local real estate agent Tracey Kings and her dance partner Scott Robinson were the inaugural winners with their fun Cuban Cha Cha performance to JLo’s ‘Let’s get Loud’.
The following year the group pulled off the biggest dancing fundraiser ever with the 10 couples helping to raise a massive $67,500 for the LBV.
CSA Mine environmental officer Tanya Gilbert and her dance partner Scott Smith were 2007’s highest fundraisers contributing $20,286.
John de Bruin and Emma Barton’s beautiful waltz to The Rainbow Connection (and a few bribes) helped them to win the trophy that year.
John also won the title again in 2012 (with Keira Davis) and, after a brutal bribing war that took place between a few dancers’ dads, they helped to raise $17,000 for the LBV.
In 2010, the event raised $16,000 for the Brennan Centre; $25,000 was raised in 2014 to be shared between the PPs Organisation and the Glen McGrath Foundation; and the last fundraiser held in 2015, earned $16,000 for the ANZAC Memorial in Drummond Park and the Mayoral Chest.
John said the funds from this year’s event will go towards Stage 2 upgrades to the ANZAC War Memorial and, if there’s any money left over, it will help fund the 2025 Running On Empty Festival.
John was thrilled to announce that he had recruited Hamish Southwell from Channel 7 Dubbo as a special guest judge this year.
