Welcome to 2023!

Firstly, i'd like to thank everyone for their vote and giving me the opportunity to be the HAC President for 2023.
For those that don't know who I am, I am Jess Wilson's husband, and have been involved with HAC since 2000's production of Les Miserables where I was in the chorus, and had 11 costume changes! It was an epic introduction to HAC, and it had me hooked to come back for more. The following year i was a tap dancing sailor in Anything Goes, and this was where Jess and I first met.
I have been involved in a lot of areas within HAC from chorus roles, to featured cast and lead roles, back stage, in the flys in the old theatre, front of house at the old theatre and Wesley, program seller, ushering, producing, organising sponsorships, making and painting sets, bumping in and out, stage manager, and I have been a commitee member on 3 seperate occasions and now President.

Our first meeting for 2023 went well and there have been a couple of changes on the commitee. Erin Boucher, Belinda Elliot and Jess Wilson have all left their roles and I'd like to thank them all for their input over the years and their contributions to HAC.
We have new comers Chloe Findlay and Kayla Wilson joining the commitee, and also long time member Emily Friedrichsen has also joined the committee for 2023.

We have put the feelers out for a team to come forward and apply to do a show for the October season this year, as you will see further down.

There was a movement to go back to the show application format we used to run. There were a few concerns with the trial we ran where the commitee chose a show and the director and producer were'nt chosing their teams to work with.

You may have noticed the HAC website has been offline for quite some time. We are working on a solution here and hope to be back online bigger and better soon.

We are working on some new grants and hoping to get some well needed funding for some big jobs at the HAC premesis.
Jack, Simon and I have met with Plazzer builders who have quoted and been successful in getting the job of replacing part of the roof and insulation that has been leaking for years at the HAC shed.
There is also new lighting going in in the ' work' area and a lot of additional power points in the rehearsal area which we are always short of.

There is also a working bee coming up on Saturday 18th of March for sorting and resetting our 'large items' and props. If anyone would like to come out and help that would be fantastic. 

Until next time, break a leg and remember the force will be with you, always!

Nick Wilson

Larson Versteegen is the son of long time HAC members Erin Boutcher and Chris Versteegen. As one of only a handful of Victorians diagnosed with Severe Congenital Neutropenia, Larson may need to undergo a life-saving Bone Marrow transplant at the unimaginable age of 2 and a half years.

Larson has faced a multitude of specialist appointments, biopsies, ambulance flights to the Royal Children's Hospital and more than 20 hospital admissions since his symptoms first began in October 2021.

A covid baby from country Victoria, Larson first showed signs of a rare condition when a common stye on his left eye turned into a massive infection over the course of a weekend. An intense period of antibiotics later and all seemed well. A couple of weeks later, a simple cold turned into a hospital stay and the local pediatricians began to suspect something was amiss.

Severe Congenital Neutropenia is a condition wherein the sufferer has abnormal to non-existent neutrophils. These white blood cells are essential for fighting bacteria. This condition means that Larson lives in isolation away from other children, his extended family and friends. Any infection must be treated as life-threatening for fear of sepsis and blood infections. There is no cure.

Measure in Love for Larson: A Pop Up Piano Bar was a one-night only event featuring over 20 talented performers from Horsham and surrounds. This night of entertainment was a labour of love from friends and family to celebrate a very deserving little boy who touches the lives of everyone who meets him.

Featuring hours of hits, Larson’s Piano Bar was a semi-formal eventfeaturing songs from Whitney’s ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, to Cher’s ‘Believe’ and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, the playlist will encouraged everyone to get up and sing and dance along with the vocalists.

All funds raised went to Maddie Riewoldt's Vision which funds research that accelerates next generation prevention, diagnosis and treatments of BMFS while supporting patients and families living with Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

Join our HAC family by becoming a financial member. 

Membership options:

• Family $120 (includes 2 adults and any children under 18yo)
• Adult $60
• Student $40 (under 18 years of age)
• Associate Member $10 (per show season)

All members over the age of 18 must have a valid working with children check. If you are eligible, you must be fully vaccinated to gain membership.