For the past 15 years, Jenny Brown has been a dedicated Village Manager at Oak Tree, organising annual events to raise funds for various charities—primarily those supporting cancer research and individuals impacted by cancer.
This year, Oak Tree Retirement Villages Capricorn Coast resident Michele was watching television in her villa when she saw an advertisement featuring celebrity chef Manu Feidel promoting BarbeCURE. BarbeCURE encourages Australians to fire up the BBQ and raise funds in support of Cure Cancer Australia Foundation, an organisation dedicated to funding groundbreaking cancer research.
Michele thought the event would be a hit with her fellow Cap Coast residents and reached out to Jenny for help in bringing the idea to life. “When I saw the advert for BarbeCURE, I just knew our village would love throwing a sausage on the barbie for a good cause,” Michele shared.
The event held deep personal meaning for Michele, who lost her mother to cancer when she was just eight years old. As a former care support worker, she never had the time to organise an event like this—but now, in retirement, she not only has the time but also the encouragement and support of her tight-knit Oak Tree Cap Coast community.
A Night Full of Fun and Festivities
Over 60 residents, family and friends, and community members came along to the barbeque, including members of the local mahjong, crafts and exercise clubs that meet each week at Oak Tree Cap Coast’s village centre.
And the fun didn’t stop at the food! Guests enjoyed:
- Live entertainment by local country music artists Janelle Cullen and Matt Lawless
- A community raffle with fantastic prizes donated by residents, staff and local businesses
- A ‘guess how many jellybeans’ competition—a favorite among the grandkids!
A Sincere Thank You
Jenny and the team extend a big thank you to residents, staff and the following local businesses for their generous contributions to the raffle:
- Yeppoon Betta Electrics
- TSG
- Yeppoon Day & Night Pharmacy
- Top Spa & Nail, Beach Time Trading
- Micks Meats
- Krackers
- Cedar Park Bakery
- Pam’s Furniture
- Bunnings
- Livelife Pharmacy
- Beach Time Trading.
The barbeque raised over $2,000 for Cure Cancer Foundation so far. Additional donations can be made here.
Our Yeppoon Retirement Villages
We have two great retirement villages in Yeppoon. You can learn more below.
Image: James and Steve at the barbeque
