The Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball raised more than $600,000 for charity during 15 years when Sunrise Rotary Club of Mackay was at the helm.
Council and the MECC played a greater role in organisation since the 2019 ball, joining Sunrise Rotary Club representatives on an organising committee.
That year’s ball was the most successful to that time, including record corporate sponsorship of $50,000, record attendance and a record amount raised for charity.
More than $121,000, including a donation of $50,000 on the night by the Mackay Foundation, was raised to assist Mackay kids experiencing trauma through domestic and family violence and sexual abuse. The funds were donated to the Domestic Violence Resource Service (DVRS) to reach more children in need through additional counselling services.
That year’s ball also marked the 10th year of involvement of one of its major sponsors DGH Engineering.
Sunrise Rotary Club then decided the time was right to hand over the baton to council, the MECC and a community organising committee for future balls.
The 2020 Mayor’s Ball was postponed due to COVID.
Held in 2021, it was again a huge success, attracting a record attendance of 422, and raising nearly $100,000 for charity.
These proceeds were split 50-50 between DVRS and HeartKids Mackay.
The 2022 Mayor’s Charity Ball, which had a disco theme, was held at the MECC on Saturday, May 14 and once again smashed records.
The Ball raised a record amount of $135,121 (including GST), which was split equally between that year's two beneficiaries.
HeartKids Mackay and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which was building the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital, each received $60,804.
The 2023 Ball raised more than $90,000 for our two local charities and the event has now donated more than $1 million for charity!
In 2024 funds have been split equally between Australian Street Aid Project and Ronald McDonald House Charities Mackay Family Room, with each receiving $45,529.01.
In 2025 the event raised $54,765.08 which was split equally between Grapevine Group and The Salvation Army’s Family Violence Service, with each receiving $27,382.54.
The Ball was originally organised by the Sunrise Rotary Club of Mackay, raising approximately $600,000 over 15 years before the reins were handed to Mackay Regional Council, the MECC and a community committee. Since that transition, a further $465,000 has been raised, bringing the total funds raised to $1,065,000.