Wishlist’s inaugural Jazz and Wine Festival has been lauded a success after raising an incredible $25,000 for Gympie Hospital.

The event saw almost 250 people converge on Gunabul Homestead on Saturday afternoon to enjoy the talents of celebrated jazz and blues artists, indulge in gourmet food and savour Amadio wines.

Wishlist Marketing Manager Megan Harkin said, prior to the event, an additional $12,000 was raised through the Zinc 96.1 Family Picnic Race Day and significant donations from Bidvest, Quota, Rotary Club of Gympie and Cooloola, and Gympie South Lions Ladies Auxiliary.

“We are proud to announce that we can now purchase the $36,946 BiPAP Non-Invasive Ventilator for Gympie Hospital,” Ms Harkin said.

Gympie Hospital Acting Director of Nursing/Facility Manager Nicole White said thanks to community spirit, the Emergency Department would be the grateful recipient of the ventilator.

“This machine can be life-saving for those with breathing difficulties, or presenting in respiratory distress,” Ms White said.

“This will enhance our emergency service immensely and these patients will be able to stay in Gympie for treatment.”

The Festival was the first of its type in Gympie and was a “success on all fronts”, Ms Harkin added.

“The event was so well supported by the community as a whole. The business community provided much needed support in the lead-up to the event, the quality of the entertainment and wine was second-to-none, and the weather on the day could not have been more perfect.



“The most asked question on the day from guests was ‘can you do it again next year?’.

“Absolutely we will! We will aim to make it bigger and better, but we have set that bar high, based on how Saturday went.”

Ms Harkin said while raising funds for essential medical equipment locally was the priority on the day; the event also raised awareness in the community about the great work Wishlist does for the Gympie community.

Local businessman and passionate health advocate Cos Schuh was the major sponsor of the Festival and is already looking forward to next year’s afternoon of jazz and wine.

“The event exceeded our expectations both as a social event, and as a fundraiser for Wishlist and its endeavours to provide much-needed equipment for the Gympie Hospital,” Mr Schuh said.

“Our family will certainly be putting our hand up to sponsor this very worthwhile function next year.”



The Wishlist Jazz and Wine Festival was proudly sponsored by Schuh Group, The Gympie Times, Sutton Building Solutions, GJ Gardner Homes and Zinc 96.1.