Vercoe voted off - wild card is Idol singer's last hope
Tuesday, 29 August 2006
Source: Bendigo.YourGuide

BENDIGO'S Paul Vercoe was voted out of Australian Idol last night.

But his dream of following in the footsteps of reigning Australian Idol, fellow Bendigonian Kate DeAraugo, is not over yet.

His 60-year-old mother, Wanda, urged central Victorians to go on the Australian Idol website to register their support for the 29-year-old singer and pile the pressure on the judges to vote him through on a wild card.

"We're very, very proud of him," Mrs Vercoe, of Kangaroo Flat, said.

"And Bendigo should be proud because I think he's really boosted the image of Bendigo.

"Everywhere he goes, he says, `I'm the boy from Bendigo'.

"It's boosted the profile of Bendigo."

She urged people to go on the website for one final push before the judges decide on the singers who will get on wild cards.

Vercoe attended Creek Street Christian College, Bendigo Senior Secondary College and La Trobe University Bendigo.

He only left his beloved home city because of his desire to make it big as a musician.

Australian Idol judges Kyle Sandilands and Mark Holden slammed Vercoe's performance of Lifehouse's hit Hanging by a Moment on the Network Ten show on Sunday.

But Mrs Vercoe said: "I reckon he came over pretty good - he did well".

She said the final 24 singers had grown close and if one of them was wounded by the judges' harsh comments, it hurt them all.

Australian Idol has banned Vercoe from talking to the press until after the wild cards have been announced on Monday.