THE PHRASE ‘teamwork makes the dream work’ was evident at Saturday’s ‘Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ Masquerade Gala Ball, which raised $85,000 for Women’s Legal Service Queensland (WLSQ).
Kate Purdie (Coral Sea Marina), Candice Crossley (Whitsunday Transit), Julie Telford (SeaLink Whitsundays), and Dr Alice Harriott (Whitsunday Family Dental), said it had taken not just a village but an entire community of people and businesses to pull the event off, and extended a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to everyone involved.
“From the major sponsors to the minor, every contribution counted towards the end result, which was ultimately the $85,000 we are now able to give Women’s Legal Service Queensland, which will be used to help women and children escape abusive situations and literally rebuild their lives,” Julie Telford said.
WLSQ CEO Nadia Bromley expanded on this, commending not just the team of local Dancing CEOs but the whole of the Whitsundays’ community for getting behind them.
“The people who work for our service are amazing; they do difficult work in often challenging environments, but their work is made both possible and easier by incredible people like you,” she said.
“The work you do means we can provide services which we otherwise couldn’t, which clearly helps a lot of women who are our clients, but it also helps our staff.
“It means we have additional flexibility in how we work, in the support we can provide clients, and the places in which we work – but also, perhaps just as importantly, it makes our staff feel valued and supported, and I can’t express to you in words just how much that means.”
Whitsunday MP Amanda Camm, who is also the Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, described herself as having ‘complete FOMO’ at not having been able to attend the event but sent a powerful message to the 170 people who did.
“How very proud I am of our Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs, firstly for their courage to put themselves out there for such a great cause and, secondly, for shining a spotlight on the fact that more support for DV services is needed in regions like ours,” Ms Camm’s message read.
“As the Minister for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention, this will be a core focus for me and why I am pleased to support these amazing women.
“Domestic and family violence does not discriminate and, through this event – and the upcoming Epic Walk for DV – our community can have conversations and raise awareness with purpose, that will deliver tangible outcomes.”
Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins expressed his delight in seeing the Shute Harbour Marine Terminal being used for such a meaningful event.
“It’s wonderful to see this incredible venue come to life in support of such a deserving cause through Dancing CEOs,” he said.
“We’re proud to play a role in this initiative, and now we’re cheering on our Whitsundays team to give it their all and make a real impact for this worthy cause.”
In more good news delivered on the night, a charity raffle donated to WLSQ by local bareboat charter company Whitsunday Escape, came to a close, with the winner announced and a whopping $48,800 raised.
Whitsunday Escape General Manager Jaclyn Watson said, for her and her team, this was deeply personal.
“Behind the glitz and glamour is a community of people fighting for change – and what a community we have,” she said.
Kate Purdie extended a special ‘thank you’ to Coral Sea Marina Resort owner Paul Darrouzet, who attended the event, a highlight of which was his offer to double the prize he had donated to the charity auction, with not one, but two days out on a Superyacht, raising a total of $30,000.
The Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ next event is the Whitsundays’ inaugural ‘Epic Walk for DV’ set to take place at 7.30am on Sunday, March 30, at the Coral Sea Marina Gardens.
Ms Bromley said the organisation’s Practice Director would be attending the walk and liaising with other agencies in the region about opportunities to provide more services to women here.
For more information and online links follow the ‘Team Whitsundays Dancing CEOs’ Facebook page.
