Your Generosity Is Needed

Maggie's Money
Our thoughts and love go out to wine writer Nick Ryan and daughter Maggie after the sudden death of Nick's partner and Maggie's mum, Sarah, on Tuesday July 20, 2010. Stuart Gregor from Liquid Ideas has shared this note and we wanted to pass it onto our community:

Friends,

It's been a pretty crap past couple of days – I think you will agree. To Nick and Sarah's family we send all our love and every condolence imaginable. Sarah will be missed enormously.

You probably feel a bit bloody useless as I do, but I reckon we really have to try to do something to help our mate and probably more importantly his and Sarah's adorable daughter Maggie.

We can't see her living off his two day old whisky samples and eating only at Quay so with Nick's imprimatur we have created Maggie's Money where I ask those of you who are so inclined, to make a contribution to Maggie's future – whether it be her education, her 18th birthday party or the opportunity for welcome respite from her father.

Maggie's Money has been set up with the ANZ Bank as on Online Saver and deposits can be made in the normal fashion with on-line deposits the easiest.

The account details are:
BSB: 012125
Acct No: 905003257

All deposits will be receipted and the account will be managed with absolute transparency. Kelly Ferguson [kellyferguson@liquidideas.com.au], my business operations manager, can update you if you are keen to know how the tally is going. After a month we will ask Nick what he would like to do with the funds.

Please forward these details to anyone you think might be interested as I'm certain not to have covered off all of Nick and Sarah's mates.

Liquid Ideas has just made the first contribution.

Yours in friendship,
Stu and the Liquid Ideas team


Dinner For Emily
Sommelier Mark Johnson has been a member of Sommeliers Australia for many years and it is with much sadness that we advise of his passing. Mark turned his wine passion into a career. In 2008 he was awarded the Negociants 'Working With Wine' Fellowship, and was most recently working at Heathcote's 'Cellar & Store' as a wine consultant, food critic, colleague and all round good guy.

Mark was diagnosed with a rare from of leukemia just after Emily, his now ten-month old daughter, was born. He sadly passed away and his funeral was held in Heathcote on Tuesday June 15, 2010.

Our thoughts are with his wife Anna, daughter Emily, his family and the Heathcote community.

Cellar & Store on behalf of Anna and Emily are executing a fundraiser to help support Emily's future. For full details click here.