(Photo: Jane Erkens)
(Photo: Jane Erkens)
November 10, 2025
The weather was no joke for the organisers of the recent “Comedy For A Cause” charity night at Blackbutt Memorial Hall when the scheduled comedians could not make it.
The three comedians notified the organisers on the day that they would not be coming after hearing weather reports.
The evening on November 1 had been planned as a fundraiser for the Blackbutt & Benarkin Aged Care Association’s “Greenhills Villas Project”.
“To receive the news that the main event were going to be a no-show would have been devastating news for anyone to receive only hours away from opening the doors,” Jeff Connor said.
“(It was) news that could have ruined the whole exercise and turned it into a massive disaster.
“What about the food? What about the set-up? We had the picnic packs all prepared. The bar was stocked. The auction was ready to go. Guests would be here shortly … do we cancel, do we go ahead?
“Either way it’s a big risk.”
Jeff said the decision was made to go ahead.
“It was proposed to meet the first guests at the door and offer the option of a full refund or a ‘rain check’ for another day.
“Given the prep that had been done, the weather was co-operating and the first guests were a mix of costume wearers and ‘come as you are’, it was those first guests that set the pace.
“Our ushers then took over and greeted the guests with the news and our decision … and in they came.
“We greeted the patrons as they arrived with the news that the comedians were a no-show. There were about 100 people that turned out and not a single one of them took the option to get a full refund and head home.”
Jeff said more music was organised and the night continued with games and crazy cash giveaways.
Mayor Kathy Duff, who was dressed as Dame Edna, judged the costumes.
Jeff said he was not sure how the night went financially.
“But we already had 100 bookings and there were a stack of walk-ins through the door,” he said.
“We didn’t use all our free giveaways. We sold raffle tickets. We had a fairly good response to the auctions. The bar was busy.”
He said that overall it had been a very successful evening.
“Sometimes good things come out of adversity, and last Saturday was one of those,” Jeff said.
“It became a good night of clean family fun and games where people came out of their shells and showed their true colours.
“If by no other measure of success, the amount of laughter and cheering that was heard in the hall on Saturday night, the night was a rip-roaring success.”
