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It’s A Bloke Thing photos: Charity lunch celebrates 10 years with award-winning special guests

A charity lunch that has emerged as one of Australia’s biggest returned on Friday afternoon, with an acclaimed band entertaining guest. SEE THE PHOTOS

At It's a Bloke Thing 2021 are (from left) Alice McGowan, Sophie-Rose Greer and Tess Wagner, Friday, September 10, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer
At It's a Bloke Thing 2021 are (from left) Alice McGowan, Sophie-Rose Greer and Tess Wagner, Friday, September 10, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

One of Australia’s biggest charity lunches has celebrated a decade of fundraising for a vital cause.

It’s A Bloke Thing returned to Wellcamp Airport in style on Friday, with hundreds of guests treated to a surprise performance from ARIA award-winning Brisbane band Sheppard.

And like every year, the guests were kept under wraps until the fundraiser began.

“We keep our surprise guest identities under wraps until the day of the event. While we know that people are excited to see our entertainers and while we are so lucky to be able to attract internationally known performers, we want them attending the lunch to support our prostate cancer charity first and foremost,” foundation chairman Marcus Barnard said.

Since its inception 10 years ago, the event has raised more than $10 million to support prostate cancer research, care and education.

It has also extended to the Northern Territory and the Gold Coast.

Mr Barnard said he was grateful for the many individuals, families and businesses that came on board to support the charity each year.

“We know majority of prostate cancer sufferers come from rural and regional

Communities across Australia and we are extremely proud of how our regional community has raised such record-breaking funds for the cause,” he said.

“From our generous community in Queensland and the support of our Australian special guests we are continuing to take our charities message from Toowoomba to the rest of the world.”

Previous surprise guests at the event have included Ronan Keating and Keith Urban.

The 2019 event raised more than $2 million, which organisers hoped to top this year after Covid forced its cancellation in 2020.

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/toowoomba/its-a-bloke-thing-photos-charity-lunch-celebrates-10-years-with-awardwinning-special-guests/news-story/b3bc8a55e238b559ab7cd0b483ec9c30