Mayors Charity Ball Great Success
Written by Administrator
Community spirit raises $35k
From Daily Mercury: Kate Bastable | 10th May 2010
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.