Liam Allan’s the son of renowned Scottish wildlife cameraman and photographer Doug Allan, who won four Baftas and eight Emmys capturing amazing footage in the Arctic and Antarctica, in particular — often for documentaries fronted by Sir David Attenborough.
Liam hosted his dad on a sold-out 11-date ‘Life Behind the Lens’ South Island tour early this year, including stops in Glenorchy and Queenstown’s Kinross.
"One week into the three and a-half weeks my mum passed away.
"We carried on with the tour and as I was due to come home [to the UK] to go to the funeral, I got the news in the airport my dad was dying" — he died from a brain aneurysm while trekking in Nepal.
Going through that experience, Liam — a DJ and event organiser who’s lived in Queenstown for seven years — decided to organise Saturday’s ‘A Night To Remember’ at Queenstown’s Searchlight Brewery.
"Inspired by Doug’s legacy and the outpourings of support, we felt a need to create a space where friends, family, locals and visitors alike could come together in a positive and uplifting environment to celebrate the lives of the loved ones we’ve lost.
With support from Searchlight, Saturday’s event — from 3pm till 10pm — will include bands like Piston Broke and Bourbon Sour and DJs — "a couple met my dad on the trip".
There’ll also be raffles with heaps of prizes donated by local businesses, and other opportunities — including the sale of prints, some signed, of Doug Allan’s work — to raise money for three causes.
They’re New Zealand marine conservation charity Live Ocean, honouring Doug’s environmental campaigning, Kenzie’s Gift, which offers grief support for young people, and the family of 5-year-old Queenstowner Dylan Yallop, who’s undergoing treatment following the recurrence of an aggressive cancer.
"Really, my goal would be to raise $5000 to $10,000," Liam says.
"I’ve put everything into this event because I really want it to work, it means to a lot.
"And, who knows, if it’s successful, long term it could be something to revisit regularly."
