Mayor’s Charity Ball shakes off COVID blues to tune of more than $100,000

The biggest and best Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball yet, which attracted a record attendance of 422, raised a record amount.

Mayor Greg Williamson is ecstatic with the outcome.

“The 2019 ball, the first one that council and the MECC came onboard to assist long-time organisers Sunrise Rotary Club, raised more than $121,000,’’ he said.

“But that included a separate one-off donation of $50,000 from the Mackay Foundation. The event itself raised about $74,000 for Mackay’s Domestic Violence Resource Service.

“Saturday’s night’s event looks to have raised more than $100,000. That includes more than $50,000 from the auctions – ballot bidding and live – and about $50,000 from our corporate sponsors.

“It was a wonderful night. The MECC looked amazing, decorated for the Moulin Rouge theme, and everyone was eager to have a good time following more than 12 months of limited social events due to COVID-19.

“It is pleasing that a record attendance has equated to a record amount raised.”

The proceeds of this year’s ball will be split 50-50 by DVRS and HeartKids Mackay.

Mayor Williamson said a Mayor’s Charity Golf Day on the Friday before the ball had also raised a substantial amount of money to go towards construction of a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.

“That event was organised by the Rotary Club of Mackay with in-kind assistance from council,’’ he said.

“We’ll leave it to the Rotary Club to announce how much money was raised on the day, but I believe it will be a significant boost for the project planned for the hospital.

“Monies raised over the two days – the golf day and the ball – are going to make a real difference to kids in our community.”

Following the 2019 ball, Sunrise Rotary decided the time was right to hand the organising baton over to a committee, including representatives of the community, council and the MECC.

Last year’s ball was postponed to this year due to COVID, but most sponsors and partners remained on board.

Platinum sponsor DGH Engineering has now been a major supporter of the event for more than a decade. Other platinum sponsors include Fergus Builders and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal.

Other sponsors this year included: (Gold) Allure Laser and Skin Studio and (bronze) North Queensland Bulk Ports, Envision Plastering and Construction Pty Ltd, Uniform Solutions, Pointglen Developments and DBCT Management.

Media partners were Channel 7, Southern Cross Austereo (Triple M and Hit), Daily Mercury and Tropical Exposure.

In-kind support was provided by Mackay Regional Council, the MECC, Signarama, In The Booth and
photographer Daryl Wright.