A Big Hoedown, Galiano Style by Jim Schmidt

 On Saturday night, the 17th of July, the South End Community Centre rocked to the sound of Galiano’s own country-western band, Good Company as community members gathered for an old fashioned cowboy (and cowgirl) hoedown to raise money for the Health Care Centre’s new floor.

The cause was a good one.  The current flooring in the clinic is mostly carpet that is now many years old, and impossible to keep clean and sanitary at a level needed in health care facilities.  The board made its replacement one of its top objectives for this year, and Sylvie Beauregard and her committee of volunteers stepped up to the plate to raise the money to make it happen.  And as usual, the residents of Galiano were more than happy to come out and support the Country Dance that Sylvie and her group made the primary fundraising event for this project.

Good Company, Galiano’s (Oh, the heck with it, Western Canada’s) premiere country-western band consists of Galianoites Claudette and Ed Bejtovic, Philippe Buller, Thijs Vermeulen, Shelley Okepnak and Paul Gregory.  Later in the evening they were joined by Galiano guest artists including duets and solos by Linda Ruedrich (aka Linda Ronstad) and Sylvie Beauregard (aka June Carter Cash), Dirk Ouellette and Johanna NewNoon, Heather Macrae, and Jenny Brooklin.  Let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house after the Linda/Sylvie duet.

Once the music died down, Andy Turner came on stage to have his golden locks (well just a little gray in there) shorn by Galiano’s own Sweeny Todd, Ken Kucille.  Pledges and donations to support the clear-cutting of Andy’s head and face raised an amazing $2400, and even more amazingly, Andy still has his nose and both ears!  Thanks to all those of you who pledged for this “bare all” event, and to those who bid so spiritedly in the auction for mementos of this truly memorable extravaganza.  Thanks also to all of you who came in costume and participated in the costume contest. 

The evening was a financial as well as a social success.  Overall, we cleared about $4800 which, together with other money Sylvie and her crew have gathered, means that this fall should see the laying of new floors in the Centre.

This event would not, of course, have been possible without a lot of hard work and support from a lot of people.  On behalf of the board, I would especially like to thank Sylvie and all of her volunteers who made this a reality, including Judith Parrack, Anita Braha, Jack Atkinson, Juegen Mueller, Debbie Ritchie, Jane Kalmakoff, Susan Mackey, Bill Ripley and David Middleton at www.davidmiddletoncreative.com.  Thanks also to the GHCS board members and many other community members who supported the event from selling the first tickets to sweeping up the hay from the floor and washing up the last dishes at 1:00 in the morning.  As is always the case, Linda Ruedrich was right in the middle of things, making sure that everything went well and without a hitch, right down to counting how many six-packs of beer there were to be returned to assure that none got “lost” by yours truly before they could be returned to the Corner Store.  I would also like to thank our donors, Huguette Benger (La Berengerie), Max & Moritz, The Montague Harbour Marina and The Grand Central Emporium and Diner.  We would also like to thank the businesses that had pledge forms for and promoted the Andy Shearing Event, including the Galiano Garage, Hummingbird Pub, Galiano Trading Co. and The Corner Store.  Thanks to them as well for their generous financial donations.  Thanks also to Seonaid Renwick and the Trincomali Farm for providing the decorative hay bales, and to Keith Hutchinson for donating part of his winnings of the 50/50 draw to the society.  And of course, once again a big thank you to Andy Turner for so graciously donating his hair to the cause.  Thanks also go out to the band, Good Company and to their wonderful guest artists.  Last but not least, I want to say on behalf of the board a big thank you to all of you Galianoites who once again stepped up to support your health care centre at this difficult time.  A great thing about Galiano is we can find such great ways to help each other out, while having fun doing it!