Events
Ararat Branch receives bonus at Gala Ball
When: 6th June 2008
The Ararat Branch of the Victoria Blue Ribbon Foundation were the recipients of a substantial bonus to their fundraising when the AMP Foundation through the Emmerson Financial Group announced they would donate 50 cents in the $1 for every dollar raised at this year's Gala Ball held on Friday 30th May in Ararat.
This incentive certainly sparked up the fundraising on the night with guest MC Mark Taylor inviting the 270 guests to generously dip into their pockets to support the popular Gala Auction and for the first time a Silent Auction.
Overall it is expected that through the AMP Foundation well over $10,000 will be donated to top up the $25,000 raised on the night.
In making the presentation on behalf of the Emmerson Financial Group Principle Chris Emmerson said: "It is fantastic that through the AMP Foundation we are able to again be involved with the Ararat Branch as a major supporter to the fundraising for the Ararat Hospital. Last year we were a new business setting up in Ararat and we had the opportunity to support the Ararat Branches Mt William event which was a great successful. So we are pleased that we are now considered the Ararat Branches major financial partner and look forward to this continuing into the future."
This year's Gala Ball which celebrated 20 years of the Foundation was a real crowd pleaser with the Victoria Police Showband entertaining, and together with the guest appearance of the Victoria Police Pipe Band, which was a real highlight, there were some 40 entertainers involved on the night.
The Gala Auction was well supported with Melbourne Auctioneer Phil de Fegely doing his best to entice buyers for the Main Auction and a Special Auction to support local police officer, Narelle Smart who is involved in the Kokoda Trek with nine other police officers from Melton this month.
The Gala Ball is the Ararat Branches major annual fundraiser, and through the support of Ararat Rural City, businesses and wineries locally, the Foundation and other supporting partners from Melbourne are able to raise such a fantastic amount which will all go towards the Medical Imaging Department at East Grampians Health Service.
Since 2002 through the Ararat Branches fundraising efforts over $400,000 will have been raised to support the Ararat Hospital in memory of Victoria Police killed in the line of duty, and particularly Sgt John McNally the first member killed at Cathcart, via Ararat in 1856.
The Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation perpetuates the memory of members of the Victoria Police killed in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects within Victoria.
In total, 150 Victoria Police members have been killed in the line of duty. Of these, 30 have been murdered, which underlines the dangers police members face on a daily basis. We can do nothing to bring them back, but as a grateful community, we can take steps to honour their memory and ensure their sacrifice is acknowledged through a range of projects that benefit the wider community.
The Ararat Branch and its small band of twelve members are doing their ‘bit' both with fundraising for the Ararat Hospital and importantly continually reminding our local community to support our local police officers in their daily roles.
ARARAT BRANCH: Terry Weeks (Pres), Peter Hawkins (Treas), Tim Andrew, Stephen Chapple, John Davies, Stuart Kerr, Peter McIntosh, Rod McKenzie, John Mathes, Jodie Holwell, Cecelia Fresle, Dianne Radford (Sec).
