Katherine Corps Officer’s 15 seconds of fame in a coffee shop
BY DEAN SIMPSON
When Auxiliary-Lieutenant Sandra Mortimer met a work colleague for coffee at a cafe in the Northern Territory town of Katherine, little did she know she’d end up in a music video!
Sandra had arranged to meet with Sally Courtney, The Salvation Army’s Communications Manager for the Northern Territory, to discuss work-related projects.
It didn’t take long for Sandra and Sally to realise that something unusual was happening around them.
“Sally, being a super PR operator that she is, made the observation that by default, we were sitting right amongst a film set in the Coffee Club!” Sandra recalls.
Sure enough, the well-known Katherine local and nationally renowned country music singer-songwriter Tom Curtain was there with a cameraman. They were in the midst of filming his new single, ‘Be Kind’.
“It became apparent that they needed another person to step into a scene for the music video!” Sandra said. “After Sally informed me who Tom Curtain was, I was happy to help.”
Sandra volunteered to play the role of a paying customer whose credit card fails to work and is ‘rescued’ by another kind-hearted customer. She ‘stars’ in the video for 15 seconds!
“Little did we know that the music video would also feature, in a much larger part, brother Barry Fletcher, a regular worshipper and a recent addition to the leadership team at Katherine Corps. Barry plays the part of a grandfather, and he is that, too.
“Overall, it was a great experience and great to meet some more inspiring locals achieving remarkable things.
‘Dolly’s Dream’ charity
“[During the filming] we also learned the reason behind Tom’s new song,” Sandra added.
“‘Be Kind’ was produced in support of Katherine family, the Everetts, and their charity, ‘Dollys Dream’. In 2018, Dolly’s Dream was established by Kate and Tick Everett after their beautiful 14-year-old daughter, Amy Dolly, tragically took her life after experiencing relentless cyberbullying.
“Kate and Tick’s ongoing efforts in spreading the anti-bullying messaging and to be kinder soon led to Dolly’s Dream having a remarkable impact nationally, with the couple receiving widespread media coverage and fundraising support.”
The Everetts now hold an annual ‘Do it for Dolly Day’. They also offer a phone counselling support service, and their website features a Parents Hub that supports families with children experiencing bullying, along with numerous resources and programs for schools, sporting clubs, and cyber safety apps for parents. (www.dollysdream.org.au)
To watch the music clip (with Sandra appearing 43 seconds into the video), click here
