On 19 October 2024, the Kootingal Hotel in Tamworth became the heart of a truly inspiring event, bringing together a passionate community to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research. Surpassing their ambitious goal of $20,000, the event raised an incredible $23,381 for the Shake It Up Australia Foundation.

Tamworth unites for Parkinson’s research

The day was a vibrant celebration of community spirit, featuring live music, raffles, auctions, and meaningful conversations about Parkinson’s. Attendees ranged from medical professionals to families affected by Parkinson’s, all united by the common goal of supporting research to slow, stop, and ultimately cure the disease.

With support from Team Tamworth and Shake It Up, the event was more than a fundraiser—it was an opportunity to educate and connect, sparking conversations about Parkinson’s and the importance of research.

Here’s what Joshua Brinkman, Head Chef at the Kootingal Hotel, had to say about the event and the journey to making it a reality.

Why we decided to host a Parkinson’s fundraiser

“For quite some time, the publican and I had discussed hosting a fundraising event at the Hotel, inspired by the success of an MND fundraiser I was part of years ago. One evening, I was talking with my wife, a Movement Disorder Nurse, and she mentioned the incredible fundraising efforts of Team Tamworth, who were working towards their Great Ocean Road Trek for Parkinson’s research.

After speaking further with both my wife and Team Tamworth, and hearing their inspirational stories of living with Parkinson’s, we decided that we could do far better than a raffle and put together an entire event to not only raise funds but awareness in our local community about Parkinson’s disease.

We started with the idea of a simple meat tray raffle but quickly realised we could do so much more. After hearing the inspirational stories of those living with Parkinson’s, we decided to host a full-scale event to not only raise funds but also awareness in our local community.”

What we learned about Parkinson’s in our community

“As we organised the event, I met so many people that had family members or knew people with Parkinson’s, and was astounded about both how wide spread it is, and how little community awareness there is unless someone is directly affected.

This further inflamed my passion to ensure this event was not only a fundraiser, but an event where the community could learn a bit about Parkinson’s.”

What it was like working with Shake It Up

“During the process of planning the event, Team Tamworth put me in contact with the Shake It Up Australia Foundation, and the advice they supplied for our event was invaluable.

The fact that 100% of funds donated are used directly for Parkinson’s research, and the passion exhibited by the volunteers at Shake It Up was so inspiring and showed us we were working with the right people.

Their guidance helped us make the event a success, and it was heartwarming to see how many people were inspired by the work Shake It Up does.”

Inspiring highlights from the day

“The day was an absolute success. Country music legend Ashleigh Dallas served as MC, Dr. James Hughes delivered a moving speech about Parkinson’s, and we had two fantastic bands perform live. The crowd was diverse – people with Parkinson’s, their families, medical professionals, and community members of all ages.

As a 20-year veteran of the hospitality industry, I’d love to challenge other venues across Australia to consider hosting their own fundraising events for Parkinson’s. Our industry is about creating enjoyable experiences, and tying that to a cause like Shake It Up is invaluable. Together, we can make a difference.”

The Kootingal Hotel’s event showcases the power of community and the impact of collaboration in driving change. Thank you to Josh, Harry, and everyone involved for your generosity and dedication to raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research.

For those inspired to host your own fundraiser, Shake It Up Australia Foundation can help make your event a success. Together, we can shake things up and take steps toward a cure for Parkinson’s.