December 3

Source: The Daily Telegraph

December 3, 2003

Rusty supports boys in blue

Clearly, Coffs Harbour isn't too familiar with Hollywood star parties.

It might explain why Wednesday night's party following the premiere of Master and Commander at the Coffs Harbour cinemas lasted just two hours and why Russell Crowe was left standing alone at some stages.

The charity screening, organised by the star himself, was followed by an auction of items from Crowe's personal collection; signed US basketball shirts, signed posters, caps, DVDs, even the cricket bat and vest worn by the star at his pre-wedding Crowe-Spencer cricket match.

Off to a sluggish start with auction items fetching around $500 each, Crowe jumped on stage to give the auctioneer a helping hand, cracked a few funnies and half an hour later, more than $20,000 had been raised for the Coffs Harbour Police Community Youth Club.

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Crowe hits Coffs
By Fiona Connolly

IT WAS exactly what Coffs Harbour local Russell Crowe had hoped for - the most relaxed red carpet premiere in history.

It was a shorts and Hawaiian shirt kind of affair last night when no more than 200 people lined the Birch, Carroll and Coyle Cinema to welcome Crowe back home after a worldwide tour for his blockbuster, Master And Commander.

"Everything is local. We've made sure Coffs Harbour is all over this event - even the chocolates have Coffs Harbour written on them," Greater Union marketing manager Kristie Atkins said.

There were no shrieks from teenage girls, no chanting, no autographs to sign - in fact the biggest stir was caused by an ambulance stopping to treat someone from the next door cafe.

Red carpet guests included Crowe's mate and fellow Coffs Harbour resident Jack Thompson.

The rest were ticket holders who paid $40 each to support the local police youth club.