Cafe helps lift votes for Lisa
BY CHLOE BUGELLY

The youth cafe is helping to keep Lisa Mitchell in Australian Idol with Mitchell’s friends Stuart Barlow, 15, Amy Rathgen, 15 and Hamish Ward, 16, texting.

THE Retro Youth Cafe in Albury’s Dean St has been transformed into a Lisa Mitchell fan club headquarters.

Posters of the Australian Idol hopeful hang from every wall, articles dangle from doorways and windows are painted with messages telling people how to vote for Mitchell, 16, who is in the top eight of the national talent quest.

The year 10 Scots School student has been a regular at the cafe’s monthly open mic nights and was one of the venues’ most popular performers.

Five weeks ago cafe staff began collecting money to buy phone cards to send SMS votes to keep Mitchell in the competition.

They are collecting about $150 each week, sending 200 each Sunday night.

Cafe program co-ordinator Bek Nash-Webster said it was a way the cafe could show support on the community’s behalf.

“A lot of people can’t afford to pay 55c a text message,” she said.

“Lisa has supported us through the years so this is a way we can help others support her.”

“Every text message goes a long way and we just hope we can keep her in for the next few weeks so she can perform when it’s acoustic guitar night,” Ms Nash-Webster said.

Mitchell’s close friend, Amy Rathgen, 15, has flown to Sydney to see her classmate perform on the show and said she was “having an absolute ball”.

“Lisa is making the most of the experience and loving it,” she said.

“She’s singing disco this week which really isn’t her style but I hope she can stay for a few more weeks so the country can see what a fantastic acoustic performer she is.”