When the Illawarra State League Basketball men’s open team discovered their yearly levies had nearly doubled, chocolates and barbecues were not going to cut it to fundraise.
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Josh “Smyth” Smith decided to fuse his love for the game and punk music by putting a call out on Facebook to see which of his mates could help.
The 32-year-old was blown away by the number of bands who put their hands up.
“I just got a ridiculous amount of bands saying they were ‘keen as’ and this was the only way I could think of to raise money,” Smyth said.
“We’ve been trying to [sell] chocolates and raffle tickets … but me doing what I do with music I thought I may as well chuck on some kind of gig.”
What he thought would just be his band, Steel City Allstars, and one or two others quickly turned into a full evening of ska and punk at the Corrimal Hotel.
Eleven bands from Sydney and the Illawarra will take to the stage for “Rockin’ The Rim” Saturday night, kicking off from 5pm through to close.
Groups include Skinpin, Two Faced, Brown Paper Bag, Colytons, Alisons Disease, Charger and Rukus.
It will also be the final show for a while for the Steel City Allstars who are entering into hibernation while some members have children and the group heads into the recording studio.
Meantime, the gold coin donations on entry and money raised from raffles will help out the dads, teachers and other everyday men that represent the region.
Team coach Sam Ackroyd said some funds will also help the local Barrengary competition team - both train at the Snakepit Stadium in Gwynneville.
He said it was difficult to lock down big sponsors like other teams as usually they didn’t find out the exact amount owing until “the last minute”.
“It’s ridiculous how much we’ve got to pay to represent our own bloody town … and that doesn’t cover travel costs,” Smyth said.
We’ve been trying to [sell] chocolates and raffle tickets … but me doing what I do with music I thought I may as well chuck on some kind of gig.
- Smyth
It’s not the first time Smyth’s given his time to the community. He’s also held punk fundraisers for cancer, animal welfare and muscular dystrophy.