Gig For Ross
Saturday 21 November 2026
North Ryde RSL Club from 7.00pm
Ross Laybutt attended UNSW Baxter college in 1988 and 1989 and in doing so made lifelong friends who have stayed connected ever since. Sadly, in January this year, Ross passed away from glioblastoma (brain cancer). We miss him every day.
To honour, remember and celebrate Ross, some of his mates from the Baxter College are “putting the band back together”! It’s been nearly 40 years since this group has performed together and what a great event to reunite for.
The original members James Deakin on Drums, Dom Willson on Bass, Jason JB Brown on Guitar & Tim Cox on vocals will be joined on stage by other ex-Baxter musos – Darren Crayn on guitar & vocals, Dave Monaghan on Keyboards & vocals, Al Tomkins on vocals & harmonica and James Trog Tregurtha on vocals.
It will be an 8 piece ex-Baxter College SUPER GROUP!
It’s time to party like it’s 1988…
Buy Your Tickets Now!
If you want to go back to the eighties and pretend you are 19 again, select an Adults over 30 ticket. Get a group together and bring your family and friends. Come earlier for a meal at the club and a pre-gig drink!
We would like to see as many of the next generation as possible, so bring your kids along with an under 30’s ticket. Under 18’s are allowed at the gig in the auditorium with parents.
If you can’t make it but want to show your support, then please buy a virtual ticket (or 2). Proceeds from virtual tickets will be donated directly to the Ross Laybutt Fellowship in Brain Cancer Research. Your support in spirit will be much appreciated.
Proceeds from the Gig For Ross will go to the Ross Laybutt Fellowship in Brain Cancer Research
Associate Professor Ross Laybutt was a highly respected scientist whose career spanned more than 35 years and was defined by rigorous, curiosity-driven foundational research.
Ross completed his PhD at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, undertook postdoctoral research at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, and then spent another more than two decades at the Garvan before joining the Westmead Institute for Medical Research in 2022. He served on the Board of the Australian Diabetes Society and as a reviewer and editor for a number of international scientific journals.
In November 2024, Ross was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM). He was 55 at the time. He passed peacefully at home with his family less than 14 months later. None of the worldwide standard treatments available to GBM patients were able to cure his cancer.
Ross’ family is committed to honouring Ross by financially supporting this Fellowship for a minimum of five years but hopes that via ongoing fundraising efforts and the support friends, colleagues and the general public that the Fellowship may be able to go on even longer.
For more information and to donate directly, go to: The Ross Laybutt Fellowship in Brain Cancer Research