A CHARITABLE CAUSE?

I have to admit I have had one helluva day. First I read in the Herald Sun that a commercial appearance in Brighton had been cancelled. Nobody told me. It is true. I was going to be dancing with my Dancing With the Stars partner Patrice Smith.

Because of the Graham Kennedy saga – and a campaign led by former radio star John Blackman – the owners of a new apartment complex cancelled. Hinch – persona non grata.

That didn’t worry me. It was only money. But then I got a call that really got to my gut and to my heart. And my soul. If I have one as some people doubt.

As some of you would know I have been involved with kids with cerebral palsy. Patrice and I actually rehearsed in front of them. And some in calipers could have probably danced better than me. “ Right foot, Derryn, right foot”.

I got a call from the CEO at CPEC today – the cerebral palsy education centre – Garry Prigg, a man I thought had become a friend, informing me that CPEC was dissociating itself from me. Because of media animosity and a couple of parents. Over my revelations about Graham Kennedy.

And I thought: what the hell is going on here? This is not about me or Kennedy.These are kids in need. Kids whose futures are in doubt.

I single-handedly raised the first $90,000 to keep the CPEC centre open some years ago. I took millionaires to their auction functions and poured alcohol so that they would bid big at the auctions. In recent times I have been involved, at the forefront, to raise $800,000 to build a learning centre for these kids.

As recently as last night Prigg was proudly showing me photos of work on the new school which brought tears to my eyes. It will open in July. And more than 60 kids with cerebral palsy will benefit from it.

I have been with these kids. I have held their hands and hugged them and laughed with them. And to be treated now like a leper hurts me. It really hurts me.

I changed my will for young kids with cerebral palsy. I changed it so that in perpetuity any royalties my estate gets from book sales goes to them.

It still applies. Despite being suddenly ostracised from a cause I have passionately supported. And the other sad thing is that 3AW has supported CPEC in a huge way. I can tell you….. they won’t any more.

This is one of the biggest kicks in the guts that I have ever had.

Friday, June 3, 2005

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2005