'Country Kim Cook' & Vickie Need A Leg-Up! Can You Help??

Hi Everyone...

Kim and I have recently suffered a devestating blow which has all but upended our ability to keep playing music..

Many of you will know us... For almost four decades going back to the 70's Kim and I have both played in various bands (separately) around Sydney, held down numerous residencies, played at Paddo, Balmain & Leichardt Town Hall dances, parties, fundraisers as well as regular jaunts up and down the North Coast... The Inner City was our main stomping ground I guess...

My birthday was on Monday 11th November - REMEMBRANCE DAY!

One I won't forget in a hurry!

At 6am there was a very loud persistent knocking on the front door... I opened it to find two burly policemen directly in my face... One was mumbling something like "we found your car..." I had to ask a number of times for him to repeat himself as I was totally confused... . Being almost deaf and half asleep this was NOT making any sensse... The other one asked "where are your car keys..."... I went to get them but the bowl we keep them in was empty...

Then the penny dropped!!! I went outside and saw the carport was empty... Our Subaru along with Kims LH Washburn acoustic and my beautiful black Ibanez Acoustic Bass, my walker and other essential items for busking - GONE!

The Police found it about four blocks away in the middle of a cul-de-sac... Doors open, glove box and centre compartment scattered around, passenger side front tyre totally shredded, the rim badly buckled and a ding above the tyre... NO GUITARS!

We have now become part of the weeks crime statistics for stolen cars in Albury though we are luckier than most as our Subaru was not torched! My walker and our fold up chairs were still inside... Kims wallet was left open on the seat... They took his keycard and my credit card BUT both our pension, medicare cards and licenses were still in his wallet which made things a little easier for replacement purposes..

The Subaru was towed away for processing but we couldn't retrieve the walker as it was a 'crime scene'...

It took a week for Police to release the Subaru... During that time Kim either had to leg it or get cabs... After a few days we realised we needed to hire a car as there was a lot of running around to do including a scheduled medical appointment some distance away... Both our energy levels are extremely low and we are financially drained...

We've been in contact with the local pawn shops but no luck... The Police have told us (what we already know) it's unlikely our instruments would be recovered....

Over the last four years Kim and I have had many challenges to deal with although this one comes dangerously close to knocking us flat on our butts...

Just prior to COVID I sustained permanent hearing loss in my L ear... Coupled with my tinnitus this has led to ongoing balance issues...

Around the same time I was diagnosed with bladder cancer... I had two surgeries and three rounds of immunotherapy... Then Kim was diagnosed with prostate cancer which required intensive radiation therapy... We are both in remission...

In 2019/20 I had two retinal detachments requiring four surgeries very close to each other... Not long after one retina decided to detach again... Another two surgeries... In May 2023 I lost my balance and fell onto a large crack in our front path and fractured my hip ... Yet another surgery and hip replacement...

Nine general anaesthestics over a short period of time unable to fully recuperate in between each one left me with severe depression and (for a short time) suicide seemed a viable alternative... My vision and mobility were compromised, I lost a lot of muscle mass to atrophy and am still quite weak... I am dependant on Kim and my walker outside the house...

This has been an incredibly painful journey both physically and emotionally and has had a significant impact on every aspect of our lives... It took a lot of work to climb out of that @#%$&!% great black hole and now THIS???

Musically it's been devestating... I can no longer play a gig standing with a heavy bass around my neck... Acessing venues with low light, steps, negotiating crowds, leads and equipment are herculean tasks no longer in my cosmos... Kim has had to take on so much and playing has taken a back seat unfortunately...

Anyone who knows Kim and/or has heard him play knows he is an extremely talented musician with an incredible passion for music... He started playing and singing when he was twelve (did his first gig on drums) and has been a professional musician for most of his life... Music is in his blood...

This has been a terribly isolating experience both socially and musically... Desperate for a creative outlet we decided to take our Blues to the streets of Albury and have been entertaining passersby for the best part of three years...

BUSKING has been a lifeline for me... It's accessabile and gives me the ability to perform with freedom and not be defined by my limitations... It's also a much needed social outlet and a great rehearsal space... The $$$ are inconsequential but they help...

ON A POSITIVE NOTE:

We have been absolutely gobsmacked by the generousity of 'Laughing Tony' Smith who organised replacement instruments for both of us so we could get back to busking... He's one-of-a-kind and a brilliant musician who is well known and much loved in Albury and surrounding areas... We can't thank him enough!

We have managed to stay afloat financially through the generousity of Kim's son Jacob and family and Kim's close friend 'Bluey' who is always there whenever Kim needs him... We are hoping to repay them both as soon as possible...

With your help we will be able to

It's been really difficult deciding whether or not we share our situation publically through this GoFundMe appeal... I've walked away from this many times over the last month or so... Immersing myself in it and having it on auto replay for so long is really doing my head in...

This is a BIG 'ask' given many of you have so much on your plates already but we do need your support... Any contribution you make will help us get back on our feet and keep playing...

We wouled also really appreciate it if you would share this with your networks...

Thanks heaps and we hope this coming year will be a good one for all of us!!

Happy New Year...

'Country Kim' Cook, Vickie & Ms Mavis