The Enchanted Fig Tree is extending its Starlit dining to support fire and flood communities and a new anthem by John Paul Young is on the menu.

Three years on from the Kangaroo Island bushfires, the recovery and resilience of the island’s wilderness and iconic wildlife is evident and abundant. As the blackened trees flourish again with new growth and the scars fade, the mental health scars left on a community can take much longer to heal once the emergency support ends and the world moves on.

After experiencing the shock and despair of her local community during those fires, local Kangaroo Island music artist and chef Christine Rourke had a chance meeting with music legend John Paul Young and together they have produced a moving anthem called The Island.

Christine penned the song when her house became a refuge for her community as the Kangaroo Island fires burned around her.

“Needing a moment to reflect, I found a quiet corner where the words to the song poured from my mind,” she recalls.

Now, the collaboration with JPY has led to a funding initiative to support the mental health of people affected by the Kangaroo Island bushfires and the Riverland floods. Donations made through downloading the song will go to the Our Town, fire and flood fund, a health initiative funded by the Fay Fuller Foundation.

To assist in the ongoing fundraising initiative, each night, The Enchanted Fig Tree will be featuring The Island anthem as the final sweet course is served beneath the trees majestic canopy, lit with swathes of sparkling bud-lights. Diners will be able to donate by downloading the song as it plays around them.

The special Starlit evenings will be open on selected Friday and Saturday nights from now through to Easter until 10^th April 2023. Tickets are on sale through the Gastronomo dining website – see Starlit Dining at www.gastronomodining.com.au

If you are unable to join The Enchanted Fig Tree Starlit dinner, we invite readers to support this great initiative and donate or download The Island.

For more information, contact Nick Hannaford: email [email protected] or phone 0418 219 927.