Mel Allen, of Cocobean, with one of the signature chocolates that she will donate. Picture: PAUL SCAMBLER
THINGS are looking sweet for Launceston's Gala Cocktail Bushfire Appeal Fund- raiser.
Dozens of Northern Tasmanian businesses, performers and artists have thrown their support behind the January 24 event and Launceston's Cocobean is one of them.
Store manager Mel Allen said Cocobean would donate 300 individually wrapped, hand-made chocolates to the event as a way to make each person feel special.
"We have received a lot of support from the people in the community and we feel it's important to be generous back," she said.
"It's a joyous act to be able to contribute to an event like this ... and in terms of the chocolates, they're something individual, which makes them special."
Southern Cross News presenter Jo Palmer will MC the evening at Launceston's Tailrace Centre and musicians Travis Hennessy, Alex Thompson, Danielle Barnett and Bonnie Harris will perform a special music act.
Launceston alderman and event organiser Danny Gibson hoped the event would raise more than $50,000.
"Within 24 hours of when the Queensland flood hit we organised a fund-raiser similar to this and were able to raise $50,000," Alderman Gibson said.
"So when the bushfires happened, the people who helped me with that event started to say, `well what are we going to do for the people in our own backyard'.
"This is our chance to work together as a community to do what we can."
Only 300 tickets are available for the event, which went on sale at the Princess Theatre box office yesterday.
All funds and donations will be managed through the Rotary Club of Tamar Sunrise and Rotary Tasmania.
Launceston City Council Customer Service Centre will accept donations of items that can be used for raffles, fund-raising and auction items.