Big Bed Benefit

Playing up a storm at Proudfoots
Published in the Warrnambool Standard Saturday 27th May 2017 - Copyright Warrnambool Standard 2017

Leading celtic band Cill-Airne is on the bill for the "Big Bed Benefit" concert which will be held at Proudfoot's on Sunday May 28th 2017. The concert is in honor of the late Dennis Taberner, an influential figure in the south-west music scene. Other acts include Likely Celts, Mem Taberner and Don Cowling, Lex's Shed, Lynne Moloney and the Teacher's Pets, Peter Daffy and Steve Gilchrist, the Bucks and the Southern Ocean Sea Band.

 

Big Concert for Dennis - written by Anthony Brady - Published by Warrnambool Standard Friday 26th May 2017

SOME of the south-west's finest musicians will gather this Sunday to honour the wishes of a fallen colleague. Dennis Taberner passed away in November last year from a terminal lung disease. He was able to spend his last days at home thanks to South West Healthcare's Regional Palliative Care Service (RPCS). Taberner's widow, Mem, said his final days were filled with thoughts for others. "From July last year, Dennis was bed bound in a hospital bed in the middle of our lounge room, where he held court to the numerous visitors who came to see him:' Mrs Taberner said. "Although the help and nursing equipment that was provided by RPCS was of a quality that is a credit to them, it became quickly apparent that the bed provided was too short for Dennis resulting in some discomfort. "At just under six-feet tall, what was a discomfort to Dennis would bea bigger issue to someone taller. "Luckily, we were in a financial position to rent an extendable bed. "We were aware there are many people who are not financially able to privately hire the equipment they need. "Dennis woke one morning with the idea of asking some of his friends in the local music scene to organise a concert to raise money to purchase an extendable bed for RPCS:' That vision will be realised this Sunday with the staging of the 'Big Bed Benefit' concert." The concert will be held at Proudfoot's Boathouse from 1.30pm to 6pm. The line-up includes - Lex's Shed, Mem. Taberner and Don Cowling, Lynne Moloney and The Teachers Pets, Peter Daffy and Steve Gilchrist, Cill-Airnie, The Bucks, Likely Celts, The Southern Ocean Sea Band and an Irish session finale. Taberner, who died at 68, was an influential figure on the south-west music scene. He moved to Warrnambool in 1967 and soon after formed his first band, The new Folk. In the 80s, Taberner was part of the prominent Emu Creek Band. Taberner played a big part in the establishment of the Koroit Lake School.