The second Sai Kung Buzz Concert for the Animals turned out to be a spectacular success. Hosted generously by the Tikitiki Bowling Bar, it attracted about 350 people. This is based on a headcount at 9:00 pm and adding those who had already come and gone, often with kids, and an estimate of the latecomers, still pouring in.
So many stars emerged on the night. The spirited Catwomen in black leather with tails, actually members of the Tikitiki Dancing Troupe. These young ladies rip in to it, obviously delighting in their dancing as the crowd cheered and the flashbulbs popped. The Village Dogs, Greg and Larry, performed for a second year, harmonising so well together. Jim Lewis and Rob Archibald hammed it up as MCs competing with each other. Three young Irish dancers looked lovely during their high-stepping routine that opened the adult show.
The Zambian stage-named Frankie Hollywood is a consummate musician, belting out rollicking tunes with his Tiki Birds, jiving and singing beside him. Frankie is the Tikitiki’s in-house band leader. Jimmy2Times, led by Shatin College Head Teacher Jim Lewis, are such a good band they should go professional. Then there was the tiny tot who tried to commandeer the stage and nearly succeeded. A budding thespian for sure.
Many of Sai Kung’s great and good were present, too many to name. Standouts: Dr Mike Muir of Pets Central and Mui Thomas, the girl Saikung has taken to heart.
A long list of people deserve credit for the evening’s success. One outstanding volunteer was Jim Lewis, who organised the three out-house (non-Tikitiki) bands, Hudson Hornet, Village Dogs and his own Jimmy2Times. Jim coordinated the entertainment programme with the Tikitiki management and acted as MC keeping the show more or less orderly despite the lubricated state of many guests. Brad Gotfried, owner of the Tikitiki Bowling Bar and an animal lover, gave $150 of each adult ticket sold and $60 for kids tickets to the five cat and dog charities. He also upgraded the food on offer from canapes to full buffet and gave a children’s party for 12 as a raffle prize.
Robin Bradbeer, a Sai Kung Buzz director, was involved in the organisation of just about everything. The charity heads, Catherine Lumsden (Catherine’s Puppies) Narelle Pamuk (Sai Kung Stray Friends) Emily Allington (Hong Kong Cats) and Carol Biddell (Sai Kung Lost Found Injured Animals) were active on the Organising Committee.
The raffle seemed to go on forever. So many people had donated prizes, with Catherine cajoling the raffle prizes from all and sundry – from solar panels to stuffed toys. Perhaps the most valuable was from the Dan Ryan’s Group, $5000 worth of restaurant gift vouchers. Thank you, CEO Merritt Croker.
The evening was such a success (despite a few inevitable hiccups) the third Sai Kung Buzz Concert for the Animals in 2019 will almost certainly be held at the Tikitiki Bowling Bar, a world-class nightclub so large it can accommodate the crowds who like the concept. It is intended to benefit Sai Kung’s five most active cat and dog charities, the four mentioned plus Debbie Chow’s Home Dog Home. All of these charities rescue dogs and cats, pay for their veterinary care and in some cases provide shelters.
We don’t yet know how much money was raised for the dog and cat charities. As soon as it is all figured out, watch this space.
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