Charity Dinner Nets Big Donation For FNQ Hospitals

Charity Dinner Nets Big Donation For FNQ Hospitals

150 CAIRNS business leaders converged on Port Douglas and raised more than $43,000 at the inaugural CityLife VIP Charity Dinner recently.

The funds were raised to directly benefit the improvement of health outcomes in Far North Queensland.

The dinner featured some of the country’s biggest names, with headline act, global fashion designer to the stars Camilla Franks as she shared her cancer survival story. She was joined by special guests football heavyweight David Gallop and the country’s richest self-made CEO, VitaGroup’s Maxine Horne.

The gala affair marked the first event to be hosted at The Glade Pavilion at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort Port Douglas since COVID restrictions began in early 2020. The venue came to life with dancers, a live DJ and a high-end fashion show.

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation CEO Tony Williamson presided over the signature charity auction which generated an amazing $40,000 on its own. An exclusive dinner at Camilla Franks’ private home in Sydney for six guests was a key drawcard for one local group who bid a whopping $16,000 for the experience.

Mr Williamson was delighted with the event outcome, saying it was an incredible night that produced an incredible outcome and he is hopeful the event becomes an annual event.

“It’s absolutely amazing to attend functions such as this, and to see so much community support for this local charity that supports the healthcare for all of us. It was even better to have the medical fraternity mixing it with the business community and celebrating a great night together,” Mr Williamson said.

CityLife Magazine Directors say they hosted the two day Annual Business Retreat as well as the VIP Charity Dinner to kick off the year on a positive note for the FNQ business community.

“Two full days of events full of learning, inspiration and fun was exactly what the doctor ordered for our local business community to get their year off to a flying start. It’s been a tough 12 months for them, so it was great to have everyone together celebrating how fortunate we are in the Tropical North and strategising ways to pivot and maximise growth opportunities in what are very different times.

“The Annual Business Retreat was hosted with the guidance of local and national business experts which was very well received by the 35 businesses in attendance. We topped the weekend off with an evening raising money for a cause very close to our hearts in the FNQHF. We couldn’t be happier with the result,” said CityLife Media Pty Ltd, Director, Danae Jones.

Camilla agreed to help the tourism industry while she was here and promote the region as part of her trip to TNQ. “The tourism industry really turned it on for her and showed her such a great time. She brought her family with her and spent five days in the north immersing herself in all that we had to offer. Stunning captured moments of her travels are now starting to appear all over her social media platforms where she is followed by her loyal customers such as Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Jennifer Lopez to name but a few of her celebrity clients. Full credit to Danae Jones and Jacqui Nolan for pulling off such a coup for Cairns,” said Mr Williamson.