A Night To Remember: A Community Celebration of Life
by Liam Allan
On Saturday, 18 July, Searchlight Brewery and Coathanger Productions will host A Night To Remember – a community fundraising event bringing people together to celebrate life. The event offers people an opportunity to raise a glass for the loved ones we’ve lost while raising money for local and nationwide charitable causes.
The event was inspired by a deeply personal year for organiser Liam Allan. Earlier this year, Liam travelled around the South Island with his father, Doug Allan OBE, on the sold-out Life Behind The Lens tour.
Doug spent more than four decades filming in some of the world’s most remote environments, working alongside Sir David Attenborough on landmark productions including Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet.
The tour sold out across the country, including shows in Glenorchy, Queenstown and Wānaka, and it led to many special connections with people in the local community. Tragically, during the tour, Liam’s mother passed away unexpectedly back in the UK. Then, only a few weeks later, Doug passed away suddenly following a brain haemorrhage while trekking in Nepal.
“It was incredibly tough losing both parents unexpectedly and over such a short period of time,” says Liam. “However, the support I received from friends and the wider Queenstown community was incredible. This event is a way of giving something back while creating a space for people to come together and celebrate the people we’ve loved and lost – something which isn’t always easy when living far from friends and family.”
A Night To Remember is intended to be a positive, uplifting evening centred around community and joyous remembrance.
The event will feature live music from local bands and DJs, along with fundraising raffles featuring prizes generously donated by local businesses. Live acts include Bourbon Sour, Gambo and Rinkha, with another band to be confirmed closer to the event. A selection of Doug Allan’s signed photographic prints will also be available on the night, with proceeds supporting the fundraising effort.
Local businesses already supporting the fundraiser include Paradise Ziplines, Snow Machine, Simply Stone, Around The Basin, Outside Sports, Industrial Fitness, You Thrive Project and LO/NO.
Funds raised during the evening will support both environmental and community causes. Beneficiaries include Live Ocean, the New Zealand marine conservation charity dedicated to protecting and restoring the health of our oceans, as well as a fundraising campaign supporting local Queenstown youngster Dylan and his family as they navigate an ongoing cancer battle.
A Night To Remember takes place at Searchlight Brewery, Queenstown, on Saturday, 18 July. Further announcements about artists, sponsors and supporters will be shared online in the lead-up to the event.
We hope you can join us.
