THE WHITSUNDAY Housing Committee is hosting a Bali Hai fundraiser and cocktail party, on Saturday, February 4, at the Water’s Edge Resort.
The aim is to help raise money to build ‘tiny homes’ for homeless, single women over 50 years old, in the Whitsundays.
The event will be hosted by local comedian Brad Elliot, who will be the Master of Ceremonies (MC) and will be auctioning off amazing Whitsunday tours, accommodation and event tickets.
Auction items include a Whitehaven Beach Big Island Day Tour, from Sealink Whitsundays, three nights’ accommodation at Whitsunday Terraces, accommodation at Water’s Edge Resort valued at $900, photographer Kelly Koolstra-Aplin has donated a glamour photoshoot, a Penfolds wine package, heritage cottage accommodation package at Woodcutters Cottage, ticket and memorabilia for the Airlie Beach Festival of Music 2023, dinner at KC’s valued at $150, dinner at La Tabella, and lots more.
Volunteer for Whitsunday Housing Company Sandy Clark said those who donated were ‘generous organisations and they deserve to be acknowledged’.
The Tiny Home Project provides emergency accommodation to homeless single women over 50 in the Whitsundays.
Whitsunday Regional Council donated a parcel of land, in Proserpine, to build the initial four Tiny Homes on.
COO of Whitsunday Housing Co Joanne Moynihan said that homeless women over 55 were a hidden statistic.
“There is a definite need for housing for homeless women over 55, who are a hidden statistic in our Whitsunday community – they tend to fly under the radar,” she said.
“They are embarrassed about their situation and tend to stay with friends or family, live in their cars or in overcrowded dwellings.
“One of our recently housed 66-year-old women was sleeping on a mattress on the back patio of her daughter’s house.”
Mrs Clark said the Tiny Homes project had come a long way since its launch, in October, at the Whisper Bar, at Mirage Whitsunday.
“We are very excited to announce the ‘New York, New York’ first fundraiser was a sold-out event, raising $16,250 plus a further $10,000 from corporate and private cash donations,” she said.
“To top it off, Whitsunday Council donated the land on which to build the initial four Tiny Homes.
“This group of women is important to me because sometimes, by no fault of their own, they have ended up homeless.
“They may have lost their job or lost their partner.”
Water’s Edge Resort, Airlie Beach, has donated its business for the evening event.
The event will begin at 5pm and finish at 9pm with Indonesian platter foods and a complimentary cocktail on arrival included in the ticket price of $100.
Prizes will be awarded for Best Dressed Bali costumes.
If you would like to donate to the Tiny Homes project, please contact Sandy Clark on 0416 181 348.
Any individual or company who donates to the fundraiser will be thoroughly thanked and acknowledged via print and speech on the night and on the Tiny Home project’s Facebook page.
Tickets available at www.airlieevents.com.au/events/bali-hai.
