Some of the who's who of Wollongong entertainment met at Harbourfront Restaurant this week for a quiet gathering that was a big surprise for a man many regard as a local legend.
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Multi MO Award winner Rikki Organ said he wanted to get together with some friends such as Trent Bowater and Mick on Wheels and enjoy a pleasant evening before his next round of treatment for the multiple myeloma blood cancer he has battled since 2009.
The get-together was a fortnight after more than 200 members of the Wollongong community and entertainment industry gathered at Centro CBD for a fund-raiser organised by Scott Radburn, Graham Wilson, Jennifer Gray, Robert Specogna, Leigh Stewart and many others.
All wanted to help a great man who nearly lost his battle a few months ago when he was struck down with pneumonia.
But his fighting spirit pulled through and what has surfaced since is stories of the number of people Rikki has helped in the community behind the scenes.
Despite his own illness, last Friday he was the emcee at the Leukaemia Foundation golf day at Kembla Grange to help out another of his mates, Greg Thurling, who has been battling leukaemia for the past decade.
The show at Centro was also a tribute to Rikki's career and supportive family. The many highlights included a video message from Jimmy Barnes and the presentation of $1150 in cash framed for the occasion by Harry Mitchell and his band The Tornadoes who took up a collection with Dot Harrison's help.
Mr Mitchell said the band had been asked to play for the Rikki night but were already booked at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club.
"That was sad for us as we have known Rikki for decades and it would have been an honour to support our mate," he said.
"The funds raised for Rikki were from a Bendigo Bank Aerial Patrol fund-raiser. The Aerial Patrol conducts two very successful charity housie sessions at the Oak Flats Bowling and Recreation Club and the Illawarra Yacht Club.
"Rikki is well known across the Illawarra as a staunch supporter of Aerial Patrol and has helped out at a number of previous fund-raisers like annual golf days and a beach party at Wests Illawarra on behalf of the Patrol.
" Our volunteer housie fund-raiser, Dot Harrison, happened to mention the benefit night for Rikki at our charity housie sessions.
"With no hesitation whatsoever, those present at the housie games passed around a bucket as a separate fund-raiser for the Rikki benefit night. The result was $1150 from Aerial Patrol supporters for Rikki Organ. How good is that?"
Rikki was aware of that but was taken by surprise at this week's catch-up at the Harbourfront Restaurant when Scott Radburn stood up and said: "I'm so very proud on behalf of so many in the community to present this huge cheque to my great mate Rikki Organ who is battling cancer.
"Thanks all concerned who were part of the fund-raising night, you are mighty. $25,547.50 is going into your account, Rikki, to help you battle this cancer."