Under the direction of Luke Joslin with MD Michael Tyack providing tireless backup at the keyboard, the audience was transported back over the decades through theatre anecdotes and the history of ABF by presenters, Maggie Blinco, Heather Mitchell, Annie Byron, Michael Falzon, Charles Wu, Guy Simon, Catherine Van-Davies and Sandy Gore who also introduced the Victoria Longley Cancer Appeal. In a video link to New York Kate Mulvany announced the opening of the appeal and her role as Ambassador. The fund was seeded with a generous donation of $5,000 from the Seaborn, Broughton, Walford Foundation. This ABF initiative will provide a safety net for colleagues struggling with the financial challenges of Cancer treatment. 

The audience dined at lantern lit trestle tables while enjoying a star packed show including Nancye Hayes, Peter Cousens, Paul Capsis, Chloe Dallimore, Sheridan Harbridge, Daniel Belle, Robert McDougall, Josh Robson, Margi de Ferranti, Natalie Abbott, Stefanie Caccamo and the inimitable Garry Scale in the guise of Norma Desmond. There were also cast members of the recent productions of The Dismissal, Muriel's Wedding and In The Heights and many more. Wayne Scott Kermond and his eighty year old father Warren tap danced through Singin' In The Rain and Jonathan Biggins as his alter ego the Hon. Paul Keating treated actors and the ABF to an affectionate roast. 

The event was also a success financially raising much needed funds that will go to assist professionals in the performing arts in their times of adversity due to illness, accident or financial stress. Generous sponsorship from Pages Event Hire, Show Support and the Opera Centre assisted ABF in achieving its financial goal.  

Photos top row: Nancye Hayes, Peter Cousens, Sheridan Harbridge. Photos bottom row: Jan Sundell ABF Ambassador and Peter Lowry Chair, SBW Foundation, Lillian Horler, Glenn Hazeldine and Valerie Bader, Wayne Scott Kermond and Warren Kermond.