Help Bill & Ingrid Hauritz Rebuild Their Lives

Help Support Bill & Ingrid – Founders of Woodford Folk Festival

Our parents, Bill and Ingrid, dedicated their lives to the arts and music world, ultimately creating something truly special—the Woodford Folk Festival. Since founding it in 1987, they poured their hearts and souls into building a world-renowned event and organization known for its positive contributions to the arts, the environment, and countless communities. They worked tirelessly until they stepped down, utterly exhausted, in 2023.

But the past few years have been unimaginably hard.

Just days before Christmas 2022, and the first festival since COVID, their family home of nearly 40 years burned to the ground. What followed was an exhausting multi-year battle with an insurance company that broke their spirits and left them short-changed. After facing this, along with the immense challenge of restarting the festival in such uncertain times, they had finally run out of energy last year. They set off overseas to begin what should have been a well-earned retirement—only for disaster to strike again.

While in Bali, Dad suffered a stroke and a foot injury, while Mum seriously injured her back. After struggling with travel insurance and navigating hospital stays with language barriers, they reunited in Europe—where Dad’s foot became septic. This led to an urgent flight home and multiple surgeries to save his leg.

Months later, back in Woodford, living in makeshift housing, Dad suffered another, more severe stroke during the most recent Folk Festival. Since then, he has been hospitalized, transferred six times, and recently suffered a fall that broke his knee and further damaged his already fragile eyesight.

Although Dad is fighting to overcome the stroke and further surgery on his foot, it’s Mum who worries us the most. She has always been the one holding everything together, but with so much uncertainty, she is struggling.

Despite everything they have been through, Mum and Dad would never ask for help. They are givers, not takers. But this time—they need it. Between temporary housing, medical emergencies, transport, ongoing care, and a house that still stands in ashes, the financial strain is overwhelming and the future uncertain.

So, my brother Jack and I are asking on their behalf.

Bill and Ingrid have spent their lives giving—to Woodfordia, to the arts, to the festival community, and to so many causes bigger than themselves. Now, we’re asking if you can help give back to them in their time of need. Please know we don't feel comfortable asking and do not ask lightly, so please accept our thanks in advance for any support you can offer.

Any donation, big or small, will help with Dad’s medical care, their housing situation, and the many costs they face and please share with as many folks as you can and post wherever you like. If you can’t donate, please share this with others who might be able to. Or if you would like to offer other forms of support, feel free to contact us.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Tom & Jack