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Jesters 10th Charity Drive enjoys fabulous 7.25 million wrap
Mike Franklin
What a
fabulous night it was at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Saturday 15th
September for the final fund-raising event of the Jesters 10th
Anniversary ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive year.
Corporate and
individual sponsorship having exceeded all previous years, the Jesters
Children’s Fair a resounding success and the best yet, so all that was
left was the Jesters Sporting Party Night to round off the 2007 Charity
Drive in style. It was party night designed to cater for everybody, just
as the Jesters ‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive works to cover all of
the needs of the underprivileged kids that we raise funds for. The money
raised on Saturday 15th September closed the Charity Drive account for
2007 and, with the attendance and support on the
night for the Auction and the Grand Raffle; it resulted in a record
total and a record benefit year for the Kids.
We can
hardly believe that from small beginnings ten years ago Woody, on behalf
of the Jesters ‘Care for Kids Charity Drive
Committee, could announce another record result in this our 10th
Anniversary year of a staggering 7.25 million baht.
But what
of the Jesters Sporting Party Night that preceded
the announcement of the result?
Well ,
it was partly billed as a ‘Sporting’ night, so who better to kick it
off but the New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ making the traditional Maori
haka in the face of rugby World Cup opponents Portugal in Lyon. A diet
of sardines is no basis for facing the scoring onslaught that was to
follow, as half-time it was 52-3, with the All Blacks doubling their
tally by the final whistle.
However ,
the ‘Party’ really kicked off in earnest at 6.45 pm when Erik
Sorensen and Robert Jonasson arrived back from Trat after yet another
exhausting, but highly successful marathon cycle ride with sponsorship
this year approaching 750,000 baht. What can you say about these amazing
guys - they do it every year, and in total have raised over 2.7 million
baht on their bicycles to date. In fact Robert (who has played a little
rugby), with his highly tuned and bulky physique, could easily slip into
the front row of one of the world cup rugby teams.
It was
their arrival back at Jameson’s that signaled the official opening by
Lewis ‘Woody’ Underwood of the Jesters Sporting Party Night, and an
opening set of entertainment and singer impersonations from Mike Gerrard
to warm everybody up, closing with fond memories of Elvis and some
amusing audience participation. Star Bangkok DJ Paul Jackson was on
station throughout to segue anything that needed sequeing.
Landlord Kim
Fletcher, with 30 years in the pub business to his credit, rated the
evening as a ‘first’ by having to blend the Jesters Party Night
Grand Raffle and Auction with coverage of five live sports on the TV
monitors around the pub.
At 8
pm it was back to sport with multi-screen coverage of the Wales vs.
Australia match from Cardiff. No handbags, crash helmets, or bulky body
armor for these guys - this is a powerhouse physical contact sport at
its best with two mega-fit contending nations hammering it out in the
early stages of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Given that this was mainly
a sports segment, other screens were showing Premier League football
with Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal, and F1 Qualifying from Belgium.
Undeterred by
all that, Paul Jackson was able to give away some attractive spot prizes
to the lucky winners. Silent bids for the auction lots had been building
and this was an opportunity to put up the hand and raise the stakes even
more. By this time Jameson’s was wall-to-wall
with partygoers, sports fans and brother motorcycle clubs supporting the
event. The car park was chocker, Harleys all about the pub entrance and
it was Party-on!
The half-time
whistle went with Australia leading Wales 25-13, out came Welsh rarebit
and Aussie pies for all to enjoy and the first lot, the 2005 Welsh Grand
Slam signed shirt was auctioned for 15,000 baht, and that was just a
taste of what was to come. That interval gave me the opportunity to
interview the two main corporate sponsors - Steve J. Lake, Platinum
Sponsor since 2004 and this year our first Diamond Sponsor, and Tony
Herbert of Glencore International Indonesia, first time sponsor at
Triple Platinum. The latter was gratefully introduced by Capt. Steve
Ponter.
The rugby
spectacle continued until around 9.45 pm with the final score Australia
32 - Wales 13. It was a fitting introduction to partygoers who were
experiencing world class rugby for the first time.
At this
point the silent bids were revealed and the auction began in earnest by
the duo of skilled auctioneers comprised of Graham Macdonald and the
ebullient debut appearance of Jester Jeff
Paladeau. It was great fun and auction entertainment at its best. Other
items up for auction included memorabilia of Michael Schumacher, Sir
Matt Busby, Arnold Palmer, and teams Manchester United, Liverpool and
Everton. There were antique Chinese furniture items, diamonds, some
lovely children’s original drawings and other unique offerings, such
as the papier-mâché happy family of four giraffes. All efficiently
touted by Jesters Ronny and Poodle Pete with clipboard ‘Sign here’
back-up from Linden and Karyn. Meanwhile, Debbie and Ingrid out back
were putting the final touches to arranging the auction lots and
checking the Grand raffle prizes in readiness for the draw.
The auction
topped 523,000 baht, partly due to some highly enthusiastic
and competitive bidding between Andy Leppard, Johnny Fox and Steve
Ryser. Andy Leppard winning the battle for the Manchester United team
signed football (courtesy of Mike Axford) at an impressive 100,000 baht.
Steve Ryser added yet another item to his extensive F1 collection by
bidding 45,000 baht for the Michael Schumacher signed shirt (also
donated by Mike Axford). The quality and uniqueness of the range of
items on offer added fuel to the proceedings. (The winning bids for the
auction items are listed later). Then it was not too long before there
was a break, with Pop’s Pattaya All Stars taking the stage for their
first set.
Dancing naturally
ensued to the beat of the Pattaya All Stars’ fine music, swaying in anticipation
of the Grand Raffle top ten prizes being drawn live, including three
motorbikes, airline tickets and packages to Angkor Wat, River Kwai, and
a dive trip to the Similan Islands. There were many other prizes
including vouchers to the Pattaya Bay Resort and Pattaya Marriot Resort
and Spa, as well as top Pattaya restaurants including Bruno’s, Mata
Hari, and Manhattan Steakhouse to complete the prize list.
The bewitching
hour of midnight arrived, the energetic selling of Grand Raffle tickets
by Jesters Muffy & Scar with the lovely Khirsly contributing some
sort of balance to the sales drive, and it was time for the raffle box
to take center stage. The top ten prizes were drawn, but sadly the
winners of the motorcycles were not present - so they had that surprise
to come. (Look for your name on the full list of prize-winners listed on
this page.)
The entire
Party Night Grand raffle, Auction, and Children’s Fair raffle results
can also be seen at www.care4kids.info
The fun and
activities on the Jesters Sporting Party Night can
bee seen on the five PMTV networks Saturday 22nd September. Join me then
and watch the Party Night unfold to its successful Charity Drive
conclusion of 7.25 million baht raised.
It was
a night for everyone to enjoy, making it a
memorable wind down to a quite extraordinary Jesters 10th Anniversary
year, and a Party Night that can only be described as another
WOW!
The party, with its live music and live sports on TV
throughout Jameson’s, was designed to cater for everybody. The Auction
and the Grand Raffle resulted in a record total and a record benefit
year for the kids, allowing Woody to announced another record staggering
7.25 million baht raised for this year’s Charity Drive.
The Party kicked off when Erik Sorensen and Robert
Jonasson arrived back from Trat after yet another exhausting, but highly
successful marathon cycle ride with sponsorship this year approaching
750,000 baht.
The duo of skilled auctioneers Graham Macdonald
(top right) and the ebullient debut appearance of Jester Jeff Paladeau
(bottom left) created an auction entertainment at its best, efficiently
touted by Jesters Ronny and Poodle Pete. The auction topped 523,000
baht.
Camillian Center expands care unit to cope
with increasing number of AIDS patients
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The Camillian Social Center in Rayong has opened its upgraded Palliative
Care Unit, increasing the number of beds for AIDS patients from 24 to 33.
 Dr.
Wiwat Wiriyakijja visits the patients in the newly opened building.
Expansion of the PCU, which was initially opened 11 years ago, was funded by
the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN), and is
designed to support the increasing number of patients.
Dr Wiwat Wiriyakijja of the Rayong Public Health Department performed the
opening of the enlarged PCU on September 8.
Director of the Camillian Social Center Father Giovanni Contarin said that
the Palliative Care Unit had become inadequate for the support of the
growing number of AIDS patients, and that consequently the number of beds
had been increased from 24 to 33. The renovation of this building was
supported almost entirely by the BCTFN.
The Camillian Social Center has to date taken care of 1,286 HIV patients. Of
this number, 720 cases have been terminal. Currently there are 43 patients
with 28 males and 15 females.
The PCU was originally opened on January 1, 1996, to support impoverished
and abandoned HIV and AIDS patients. In addition to tending to physical and
emotional needs, the unit teaches patients how the quality of their lives
can be improved and supports them for their return into society.
After the official opening ceremony, BTCFN representative Hugh Russell and
Dr Wiwat visited the patients and presented them with bouquets of flowers.
Hugh Russell shows some tender
care for the patients.
Fr. Giovanni Contarin (left),
Hugh Russell (center), and Dr. Wiwat Wiriyakijja (2nd right) cut the ribbon
to officially open the Palliative Care Unit.
The children at the Palliative
Care Unit perform a show to thank all of the kindhearted people.
AustCham gets up to Shenanigans
Jon Fox, managing director of
Q Cars Company Limited,
Brian Measey and Pat Measey.
Alain Deurwaerder, managing
director of Katoen Natie (Thailand) Ltd., Sarah Allen, account manager of
JVK International Movers Ltd. and Wayne Ketter, yard manager of Clough
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Ian Scrivener of Zed Zero Two
and Dennis Hockin, general manager Thailand (Fabrication) of Clough
(Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Jim Pollard, Peter O’Brien,
project manager of Clough (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
and Ann Ketter.
Rene Christensen Dokbua,
senior IT specialist of IT Mechanics, Aeseka Dokbua and Ian Sherratt from
Scale Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Nawaporn Fuengfoo, legal
director of Oz Thai Sports Co., Ltd., Wilaree Kleesuwan, lawyer with
Sukhothai Associates Inter Law Co., Ltd. and Jitra Wongjuan, client account
manager for AA Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd.
Antony Chapman, managing
director of Blue Wave, Jitra Wongjuan, client account manager of AA
Insurance Brokers Co., Ltd., Peter Smith, director of AA Insurance Broker
Co., Ltd., Malcolm Scorer, director of AA Brokerage Co., Ltd. and Robert
Watson from Location Location Location Property Consultants.
Richard Beazley, project
control manager of Foster Wheeler, Bill Meale, general manager Rohlig
Representative Office in Thailand of International Forwarding Agents, Paul
Wilkinson, general manager, Eastern Seaboard of Four Winds International
Moving Limited, and Richard Bailey.
The Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham)
Seaboard Sundowners networking night last weekend saw around 50 of the
chamber members and friends going up in the world. Going up to the first
floor of the new “The Avenue” shopping center, where the ‘new’ Shenanigans
Pub is now located.
One of the sponsors of the evening was Shenanigans itself, represented by MD
Trevor Allen, who came down from Bangkok for the event, as well as their
landlord Simon Dutton. Trevor, who firmly believes in the “build it and they
will come” philosophy was more than optimistic, not only just for the new
venture, but also for the Thailand economy, mentioning in an exclusive
interview with Pattaya Mail TV that despite many previous highs and
lows, Thailand always continues to rise in the long run.
Another networker that evening, with a more than ‘bullish’ attitude, was
John Hamilton of Waste Management Siam, who said that his business had grown
so much in the past few years that he was now in the position of finding it
difficult to get enough staff. From being a fledgling company trying to get
a toe in the water a few years ago, Waste Management Siam was now a major
player in the safe environmental waste disposal arena.
The other sponsor was Clough (Thailand) and many of the AustCham members had
taken time to visit this important business in Sattahip during the
afternoon. Graeme Moore, from Clough Thailand, addressed the group and
explained their position in the world market. With the price of oil going
through the roof, many oil fields which had not been financially viable
could now re-enter the market, and Clough was supplying modular drilling
platforms all over the world. Graeme also took the time to compliment his
Thai workforce, which he claimed were second to none with their
craftsmanship.
Of course a networking evening would not be a networking evening without
Maurice Bromley and his lovely wife Granita, and both were there in fine
form. Others in the ‘always there’ category included Peter Smith and Malcolm
Scorer from AA Insurance Brokers and Paul Wilkinson from AGS Four Winds
International movers. It was interesting that the Aussie Chamber attracts so
many Brits!
Other British lads included Jon Fox (Q Cars) and Kevin Fisher from CEA
Cranes. Kevin won a copy of Dr. Iain’s new book “Farang, Thailand through
the eyes of an ex-pat” as a lucky door prize and was seen chuckling to
himself in the corner afterwards.
Offroad Accessories Limited had at least six members present, attempting to
win by sheer weight of numbers, but Milan Crosse Creative relied on the
world’s oldest full-back, Jimmy Howard, to hold them all in the corner.
With AustCham president Gary Woollacott unable to attend following a family
bereavement, and the executive director Martin Kyle having been hit by a low
flying aircraft coming into Suvarnabhumi airport, MC for the evening was the
Pattaya Mail’s Dr. Iain, who managed to emcee, as well as represent the
Pattaya Mail, the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, Pattaya Mail TV and
Maverick House (his book publishers) all at the same time!
The next Seaboard Sundowners event will be publicized in the Pattaya
Mail.
Double first for Montien in bartender contest
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Montien Hotel scored an amazing double first by winning both the top
male bartender and the top female bartender awards during the annual
Bartender Championships organized by the Thai Hotel Association Eastern
Region and the Food and Beverage Association.
The contest was held in Jomtien on September 4, and was opened by former
Minister of Tourism and Sport Sontaya Khunplome.
 Miss
Dounghathai Boonnete from the Montien Pattaya Hotel wins Miss Bartender
2007.
Seventeen hotels participated in the contest, which was designed to help
upgrade bartending skills to international levels and encourage creativity
in the making of new cocktails.
Preuksarun Datcheva, an 18-year-old bartender from the Montien Hotel won the
Bartender of the Year 2007 title, together with 20,000 baht and a trophy.
Runners-up were bartenders from the Siam Bayshore Hotel and the Dusit
Resort.
Miss Dounghathai Boonnete, age 23 and also from the Montien Hotel was named
Miss Bartender of the Year 2007. Runners-up were from the City Sriracha
Hotel and the Sheraton Pattaya Resort Hotel.
The Montien also won the Wedding Center Piece competition, while Woodlands
Hotel and Resort took the Coffee Break title. Siam Bayview Hotel won the
Best Dining Table Decoration, while Siam Bayshore Hotel took the Best
Mocktail title.
Chanyuth Hengtrakul (right),
former Member of the Parliament for Chonburi awards first place to Miss
Dounghathai Boonnete, Miss Bartender 2007.
Kampol Tangekachai, member of
the Chonburi Administration Organization Council presents the championship
winnings to Preuksarun Datcheva from the Montien Pattaya Hotel.
Panya Inkongarm from the Dusit
Resort, Pattaya performs well enough to finish runner-up.
Preuksarun Datcheva from the
Montien Pattaya Hotel wins the 2007 Bartender Championships.
(Standing from left) Nantapong
Wongdraw, F&B Manager of Grand Sole Hotel Pattaya; Rawat Thongsong,
President of F&B Managers Association; Chatchawal Supachayanont, President
of Thai Hotels Association-Eastern Chapter; Chanyuth Hengtrakul, former
Member of the Parliament for Chonburi; Alisa Phantusak, Vice President of
Thai Hotels Association-Eastern Chapter; Kampol Tangekachai, member of the
Chonburi Administration Organization Council with the winners (kneeling,
L-R) Panya Inkongarm, Dusit Resort, Pattaya; Preuksarun Datcheva, Montien
Pattaya Hotel; and Youwanic Munkong, Siam Bayshore Hotel.
Launch party held to promote new PILC map
Members of the Pattaya International Ladies Club, along
with friends and sponsors, attended a launch party for the new PILC map of
Pattaya and the surrounding areas. The party was held on Friday night,
September 14 at Manhattan Restaurant in Pattaya, who provided canapés, wines
and a champagne toast.
 President
Rosanne Diamente and Cindy Logue toast the launch of the PILC map.
The map was produced by a small team of PILC volunteers, and in particular
the dedicated work of Sylvia Berra, who spent endless months recording the
changing face of Pattaya City. The result is a professional and easy-to-use
map, which PILC says will be invaluable to expats and tourists and at the
same time benefit the many charities in the Pattaya area.
The full production cost of this map has been kindly sponsored by local
businesses and individuals. The proceeds from every map sold will go
directly to charities supported by PILC.
PILC thanks everyone involved in this project: Silvia Berra and the PILC
production team for all their hard work; the sponsors and advertisers for
their generosity, the press and TV for their media coverage and support, and
the retail outlets and their staff who will sell the map and everyone who
was involved in this project - all working together to help the
underprivileged in the Pattaya area.
Remember, by buying this map, you are helping others, as all proceeds from
the sale of this map will go to local charities. In buying this map you will
be making a contribution to help the local community.
Art exhibition funds go to deaf children
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
An art exhibition whose proceeds will go to deaf children was staged over
the period September 7 to 13 at the Rim Nam Pavilion of the Pattaya Marriott
Resort and Spa.
 Somyos
Kumsang creates a beautiful piece of artwork whilst the exhibition attendees
watch in amazement.
Organized by the Marriott and the US Navy League, the exhibition featured
the work of 10 Thai artists renowned for their depictions of the
countryside. Also on display were works by Swarovski, a renowned Austrian
company owned by Josef Aigner.
The theme of the exhibition was the beauty of Pattaya, with the works being
painted both in watercolors and oils. Amongst the artists were Angkarn
Kalayanapong, Naeb Sotthipan, Hongchorn Sanae-Ngamcharoen, Kachorn Maleerat,
Prasert Puthasorn, Somyos Kumsang, Pornchai Lertthamasiri and the young
Bhanuwat Jittiwutthikarn. Bhanuwat is the son of Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn,
who is generously helping Pattaya’s people in need.
 Adisorn
Pollook-In suggests putting this work of art on Pattaya City’s annual
calendar.
All income after deducting expenses for this exhibition, which comes under
the Marriott’s Spirit to Serve project, will be presented to the Setsathian
School in Bangkok. The school, which is under Royal sponsorship, is for the
education of deaf children.
Sulak Sivaraksa, an artist well known at home and in the United States,
performed the official opening.
Adisorn Pollook-In, deputy chairman of Pattaya City Council, said that in
future this event would appear on Pattaya’s annual calendar of events.
Walking Street would be the probable venue, but this needs first to be
discussed with administrators and councilors before a final decision can be
taken.
PILC President Rosanne
Diamente and Skål International, Pattaya and Eastern Thailand President
Deborah Bundityanond view and discuss the artworks on display.
(From left) Somsak
Tanruengsri, GM of Marriott Hotel Pattaya, Sulak Siwarak, Dee Kcotas,
Pacific region president of the USA Navy League, Supadit Maneeratjarusri,
managing director of the Royal Garden Plaza Company, and Adisorn Pollook-In,
vice chair of the Pattaya City Council, cut the ribbon to open the
exhibition.
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