The CWC realised that selling raffle tickets is rather a limited way of fund raising. John Kerr came up with the idea of a $2 cabaret in early 1991. The committee was against the idea. As the committee thought there was a huge gamble on the success of the first CWC cabaret John Kerr personally funded all of it himself. This first CWC cabaret went ahead on Australia Day 1991 at the Camp Hill School of Arts. The Camp Hill School of Arts was chosen partly because of the word ‘Camp’. 165 people attended this first CWC cabaret.

There were two cabarets a year. One on Australia Day and the other six months later at the end of July. Australia Day was originally chosen as there was nothing much happening on the Gay social calendar in Brisbane at the time following New Year’s Eve.

Called $2 cabarets as everything cost $2, entrance, drinks etc. with ‘Joanie’s Follies’ providing the entertainment. The $2 cabarets quickly became a big hit on the Brisbane Gay social scene. The CWC cabaret nights were a place to catch up with people who did not go anywhere else on the Brisbane scene.

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