Mackay Rotary: Rotary Club of Mackay Sunrise

Mayors Charity Ball Great Success

Monday, 10 May 2010 17:34 administrator

Community spirit raises $35k

From Daily Mercury: Kate Bastable | 10th May 2010
THE Mackay community has once again shown its generosity, raising more than $35,000 at the Mayor’s Charity Ball on Saturday night.

Mackay regional councillor Diane Hatfield, Mayor Col Meng and Sunrise Rotary Club president Geoff Gibson inspect the collector’s edition autographed Olympic swimsuit that was auctioned at the Mayor’s Charity Ball on Saturday night.

THE Mackay community has once again shown its generosity, raising more than $35,000 at the Mayor’s Charity Ball on Saturday night.

More than 260 people dressed in their best evening wear for the annual Sunrise Rotary Club fundraiser, which was held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Ken Furdek, of the Sunrise Rotary Club, said Dance Factor spiced up the hot Latin-themed evening with dancing demonstrations, before teaching guests, including Mackay regional mayor Col Meng, a few moves.

More than 40 items were sold in a silent auction and auctioneer Peter Houghton found buyers for another 12 items, he said.

“The Ricky Ponting (autographed) cricket bat went for $3500 – that’s a record price for the (Mayor’s) Charity Ball,” Mr Furdek said. “The previous high was $3200.”

Mr Furdek said a long lunch with Graeme Connors and a mystery guest at Burp Eat Drink sold for $1600.

A collector’s edition Australian swimsuit signed by Linda Mackenzie and other members of the world-record breaking, Olympic gold medal winning 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team from the Beijing Olympics sold for $2100, he said.

Cr Meng, who has been a Rotary Club member for 35 years, said the evening brought people from a wide range of age groups together.

“It was good to see,” Cr Meng said.

“Right across the generations, everyone got dressed up and enjoyed themselves.

“We don’t do that enough.”

Mr Furdek said much of the money raised would be donated to Mackay School Chaplaincy, Nanyima Aged Care, Mackay Adra Op Shop and Lifeline.

The Sunrise Rotary Club would keep some proceeds to fund its local projects, he said.

Mayors Charity Ball Launch

Thursday, 25 February 2010 09:01 administrator

From the Daily Mercury 25.2.2010 - please visit our website www.mayorscharityball.com.au for more details.

Col has a ball with charity

Kate Bastable | 25th February 2010
DANCING the salsa wasn't something Col Meng had pencilled in his diary for yesterday.

Latin dancer Belinda Poole and Mackay regional Mayor Col Meng warm up for this year’s Mayor’s Charity Ball.

DANCING the salsa wasn’t something Col Meng had pencilled in his diary for yesterday. But when sprung with an invitation by Latin dancer Belinda Poole at the launch of this year’s Mayor’s Charity Ball, he gave it his best shot, bringing amused smiles to the faces of onlookers.

Organised by the Sunrise Rotary Club, the Mayor’s Charity Ball is returning to Mackay’s social calendar after a short break due to the global financial crisis last year.

A ‘Hot Latin Night’ theme promises to add some spice to the lives of those attending the ball, which will be held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre on May 8.

Mackay regional mayor Cr Meng said about 40 auction items would go under the hammer at the event to raise money for local charities.

These include limited edition Q150 number plates, a bottle of port signed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and a collector’s edition Australian swim suit signed by the world-record breaking, Olympic gold medal winning 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay team from the Beijing Olympics.

Cr Meng, who has been a Rotary club member for 35 years, said the ball assisted a number of local not-for-profit organisations.

“Rotary does an enormous amount of work for our community and events like this certainly make a difference to many of our local charities,” he said.

“It (the Mayor’s Charity Ball) is one of the social events on the calendar that (my wife) Rhonda and I look forward to.”

Sunrise Rotary Club president Geoff Gibson said the event had injected about $150,000 back into the Mackay community.

“Shortly we will be asking for local charity groups to nominate to be this year’s beneficiary of the funds raised,” Mr Gibson said.

“The night’s theme of Hot Latin Night will have all the glitz and glamour of a Latin dance party, as guests dance the salsa and rumba and others to live Latin music.

“Guests are encouraged to come and enjoy an evening of fun, dance, community spirit, while helping raise funds for the nominated charity.”

Tickets, which include a three-course dinner, can be bought at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre from March 1.

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 February 2010 09:07

New Club Member Julie Agnew

Sunday, 20 December 2009 17:50 administrator

The club welcomes new member Julie Agnew, below middle with sponsor Roz Mahy and Geoff Gibson (President)

She's had a wealth of experience from 12 years as a Captain in the Australian Army, a registered Nurse
specialising in Mental Health and now principal of Jade Corporate & Community Development in Mackay.
Married with six children, she joins the club for the 'comradeship and to give something back to the community'

Julie Agnew Induction

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 December 2009 08:58

Celebrating the life of the old Hospital Bridge

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 20:17 administrator

A slice of history, a drop of wine and a touch of philanthropy is all part of an innovative fundraising venture by the Rotary Club of Mackay Sunrise.

The Rotary Club approached the Department of Main Roads, who donated timber from the old Hospital Bridge to create special edition bottles of wine commemorating the decommissioning of the bridge.

Rotary Club member Marlene McGuire said bottles of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz from South Australia would be decorated with a piece of timber from the bridge and complemented with a small booklet outlining the bridge’s history.

“Each bottle will also include a picture of the old Hospital Bridge on the label, and thanks to historian Berenice Wright OAM, a small booklet detailing the bridge’s 75 year history is attached to the bottle,” she said.

Mrs McGuire said the wine would be the ideal Christmas present or corporate gift, with all proceeds to aid local charities.

And it appears the wine is proving a big hit.

“More than 20 dozen bottles have been snapped in the first few weeks,” she said.

Main Roads Acting Regional Director, Rex Cowan, said he is not surprised by the memento’s popularity.

“The old Hospital Bridge serviced the Mackay community for over 70 years so I think this is a fitting tribute to the structure,” Mr Cowan said.

“Most of the timber from the old bridge is being re-used for maintenance works on other bridges in the region, but we were delighted to donate some for this wonderful cause."

Mrs McGuire said the limited edition wine is selling for $14.99 per bottle or $12 in carton lots, and is available at the Seabreeze Tavern at Lamberts Beach or at the Bottlemart on Harbour Road.

The old Hospital Bridge was built in 1937 and serviced the Mackay community until April 2009, when it was replaced by the new bridge further upstream.

For further information, or if you would like to order a limited edition commemorative bottle of wine, please contact Leon Cuzzilla from Rotary Club of Mackay Sunrise on 0749530711 or www.hospitalbridge.com.au

Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 December 2009 08:59

Mackay Sunrise Members donate Blood

Sunday, 16 August 2009 21:00 administrator

Club members donated blood recently.
At least some of the members did. Several of us attempted to give blood but felt faint in the process?
We were all able to handle the great food though provided by Janice. One member commented that it
looked like a food bank instead of a blood bank - Well organised Russell.

Blood Bank 001 Blood Bank 002
Blood Bank 003 Blood Bank 006
Blood Bank 011 Blood Bank 013