Heloise Waislitz first Aussie to receive Angel Ball honour for philanthropy

MELBOURNE billionaire Heloise Waislitz will be the first Australian in the 20-year history of the famous Angel Ball to be formally honoured for her philanthropy.

Eddie McGuire and Heloise Waisilz. Picture: Norm Oorloff

MELBOURNE billionaire Heloise Waislitz will be the first Australian in the 20-year history of the famous Angel Ball to be formally honoured for her philanthropy.

New York’s elegant ancient regime, who have equally deep pockets, will flock to the ball in November, with Waislitz the star attraction. Saintly Bob Geldof will present the Pratt Foundation chairwoman with her award while Hollywood curve and charity queen Sofia Vergara is also to play a role at the annual star-studded gala.

The Angel Ball has overtaken the once chic Met Ball, which is said to have gone to the gutter, full of mega-celebrities wearing barely there ensembles.

Deeply private, Waislitz gave Page 13 a rare glimpse into her world.

“As a cancer survivor, I was thrilled to learn that I’m to be honoured ... for my support of cancer research,” she said.

Her beloved father, cardboard king Richard Pratt, died after a long battle with the disease. Waislitz, then seven months pregnant with her now teenage daughter, Mille, survived throat cancer after a tumour was discovered in her nasal passage.

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“Cancer research is a cause I feel very strongly about,” Waislitz said.

Money raised goes to the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for cancer research with co-founder Denise Rich telling us Waislitz was a “shining example “ of someone “who gives from the heart”.

Closer to home, Waislitz takes another starring role on Saturday night when she hosts “Celebrating Women”, Collingwood Football Club’s fundraising ball at the Glasshouse.

The Pratt family are of course Carlton blue-bloods.

But ex-husband and Collingwood vice-president Alex Waislitz introduced Heloise to the club and despite the two parting ways, she is still a mad Magpie.

Tonight will be the first time she and rocker beau Jon Stevens make an official public appearance with the Noiseworks frontman taking the stage along with Jimmy Barnes, Marcia Hines, Kate Ceberano and John Paul Young.

Heloise Waislitz. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Rock singer Jon Stevens. Picture: Katarina Benzova

Eyes and ears at the ball, which raises money for the Luke Batty Foundation, will be on MC and president Eddie McGuire, who has jetted back on the Pratt family Global Express from Lindsay Fox’s knees-up Mediterranean cruise.

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