YOUTH and Experience will have its way tonight when a group of chalkies push the professionals offstage to show what they can do.
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School principals from the region – Kerry Kurtz (Quirindi Public School), Jeremy Mills (Tamworth South Public School), Luke Norman (Oxley Vale Public School) and Lee Preston (Tamworth Public School) – along with Mark Young (DET public schools director) and Kootingal Public School teacher Ryan Griffiths, will be doing their bit for Kate.
Lots of others are Doing it for Kate tonight too. She’s the former Tamworth schoolkid, daughter of teachers Craig and Lyn McDonald, who is clawing her way back from a trampoline accident earlier this year that left her a quadriplegic but who has seen an almost miraculous recovery to at least be back on her feet.
One of the members, Kerry Kurtz, said he and Lee Preston were part of the original incarnation of the band, Trevor and the Principals.
“It was a heap of school principals and a bloke called Trevor on the drums,” Mr Kurtz said.
“That fell over and a couple of principals retired, so it was Lee and myself left. I asked my boss, Mark Young, who’s a great keyboard player and singer, if he’d be interested in joining the band.”
The result is Youth and Experience, a band of non-professionals who play for fun and the occasional box of chocolates.
“A box of chocolates is the biggest fee we’ve had yet – and that was a box each,” Mr Kurtz said.
“We play because we just love it. If money comes our way eventually, that would be okay, too, but for now, we’re just doing it for fun.”
Youth and Experience have played at a wedding and they’re going to be featured at a principals’ conference in August, but their focus this week is on tonight’s fundraiser for Kate.
“It’s a great cause and a good excuse to get up and play some dance music,” Mr Kurtz said.
“I taught Kate years ago and I was the principal at Duri, a position now occupied by Craig, Kate’s dad.
“When someone suggested we play a spot on the night, I thought that would be great if we could do something.
“She’s a beautiful girl and if we can do anything to make people smile, get up and have a dance and donate some money to the cause, that would be wonderful.”
With a repertoire that includes Elvis, The Beatles, The Eagles and all the classic dance songs from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, the dance floor should be rocking once the chief chalkies take their turn on stage.
The fundraiser, A Night For Kate, will be held tonight in the Blazes showroom at Wests. Tickets, at $50 per person, are available from Ammeg Design in Peel St, or at the Shoppingworld Newsagency.
