Sunrise hands over Mayor’s Charity Ball baton

Hard-working members of the small club have decided now is the perfect time to pass the baton on after helping stage the most successful ball in its history earlier this year.

Council and the MECC played a greater role in organisation of the 2019 ball, joining Sunrise Rotary Club representatives on an organising committee.

The club has now decided to hand the reins over to a soon-to-be-formed community committee, which will again also include representatives from council and the MECC.

Sunrise Rotary Club president Roz Mahy said members felt the timing was right for a changing of the guard.

“The Mayor’s Charity Ball has been our major fundraising event for 15 years and we’re very proud of what our club has achieved during that time,’’ she said.

“This year’s event, with assistance from council and the MECC, was the biggest and best yet and we feel it’s a good time to hand the ball over to the community.

“This year’s ball also marked the 10^th year of involvement of one of its major sponsors DGH Engineering.”

Highlights of this year’s event in May included record corporate sponsorship of more than $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 to reach more children in need through additional counselling services.

Mayor Greg Williamson paid tribute to Sunrise Rotary Club members, both past and present, for their tireless involvement with the ball over such a long period of time.

“The event has always been a highlight on the Mackay calendar and it is testament to the efforts of this small Rotary club,’’ he said. “This year’s ball was a great success and we look forward to helping build on that with the assistance of a community committee.”