2022 Mackay Mayor’s Charity Ball adopts disco theme
‘The most amazing day in this kid’s life’: The two charities chosen for the 2022 Mayor’s Charity Ball are worthy recipients.
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A brave lad sitting in Mackay Base Hospital had a “lifelong dream” he wanted to fulfil.
He had a complex medical condition that kept him in hospital for long periods of time, resulting in tough times medically and emotionally.
Heart Kids Queensland manager Holly Williams, speaking at the 2022 Mayor’s Charity Ball launch on Friday night, said her organisation could have a really positive impact on the lives of boys like this.
“We had the pleasure of getting to know this shy, sometimes cranky, always cheeky, but very brave, young Mackay man over a number of years,” she said.
“He wanted to open a coffee shop here in Mackay.
“So after some thinking and planning, we spent some time with him.
“We did some drawing and painting. We designed the creative for a logo, we came up with a name for his coffee shop. And then the icing on the cake for him was that we organised for him to be a barista for the day.
“So he became a barista for the day at the coffee shop downstairs at the hospital.
“He was the most popular barista you have ever come across. Everybody was visiting; I think we all had way too many coffees that day.
“But this was the most amazing day in this kid’s life. He was living out his dream to be a barista.
“Sadly, for this courageous young man, he passed away not long after this.”
But Ms Williams said his story showed the meaningful impact her team could have on kids’ lives.
She said eight babies a day in Australia were born with congenital heart disease, almost 3000 a year, and most would need lifelong care.
But Ms Williams said the impact was different for every family, from problem solving to advocacy and support.
She said money from last year’s charity ball had enabled the service to hire a support co-ordinator for Mackay – a “huge game changer”.
“There is no one size fits all approach to our support services and we often need to think on our feet,” she said.
“And we often need to think way, way, way outside of the box. We’re always having to solve a problem for families, problems that are things that you would never ever think that they are going to experience.
“Things from even if a child is (flown) to Brisbane and say, sadly passed away down there, nobody is actually responsible for sending them home.
“That can cost up to $16,000 to send that child home.
“So we’ve managed to work out a system. We’ve partnered with some amazing people. And we’re able to do that for free.”
Heart Kids is the only national not-for-profit organisation focused on enhancing the quality of life and helping secure the future of all Australians impacted by congenital/childhood heart disease.
Heart Kids and Mackay’s Domestic Violence Resource Service shared half the funds raised at the 2021 Mayor’s Charity Ball – $44,508 each after a record amount was raised.
This year Mayor Greg Williamson is again adopting Heart Kids as his charity recipient but also adopting Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia, which is close to raising enough money to build a family room.
Just last week, the charity announced the tender went to Fergus Builders for the room’s development at Mackay Base Hospital.
Ronald McDonald House Charities North Australia chief executive officer Tamara South said she sincerely appreciated the generous support the local community had shown.
“It will give families with sick or injured kids a place where they can rest and recuperate and enjoy a much-needed break from the clinical environment of the hospital,” she said.
While last year’s event had a Great Gatsby theme, guests at this year’s 2022 Mayor’s Charity Ball are being asked to channel their inner “Saturday Night Fever”.
The ball, officially launched on Friday night, is going disco.
Mr Williamson said the disco theme should resonate with many of those attending on Saturday, May 14, and he expected plenty of people to boogie on the dance floor.
“I will be doing my best John Travolta impersonation, although my wife Annette may disown me. It will be plenty of fun as we raise funds for two great causes,’’ he said.
The launch for sponsors and recipients was held on stage in the MECC auditorium as tickets go on sale for the ball through themecc.com.au
The Red Tie band, as well as some surprise guests, will help create the disco atmosphere on the night. Channel 7 fishing personality Scotty Hillier will MC the evening.
There will also be the usual gala charity auction.
Mr Williamson said the 2022 event was off to a fantastic start, with corporate sponsorship of about $50,000 locked in.
Platinum partners, including long-term sponsor DGH Engineering, Fergus and Daly Bay are back onboard.
Gold sponsors include Allure Laser and Skin Studio, Southern Cross Industrial Group and Champ. Bronze sponsors are Dalrymple Bay Infrastructure, Shoal Point Waters By Pointglen and Mortar Finance.
Media partners include 7 News Mackay, Daily Mercury, Hit 100.3 and Triple M 98.7, as well as Tropical Exposure.
In kind assistance is also provided by Signarama and In The Booth.
The Mayor’s Charity Golf Day, hosted by Rotary Club of Mackay and sponsored by Enlightened Financial Solutions, will be held the day before the ball on Friday, May 13.
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