Inaugural event a huge success after six-month wait

GEELONG’S generosity was on full display last weekend with more than 140 donors making their way to GMHBA Stadium to raise imperative funds for bereaved children.

Drysdale-based support organisation Wombat’s Wish held its inaugural Gala Dinner Event after two postponements over a six-month span raising $21,374.

“We ended up with 149 people on the night, a great achievement considering we had three attempts at holding the event,” Wombat’s Wish operations manager Nicki Dunne said.

“Unfortunately, our three ambassadors were unable to attend due to sporting commitments with Tom Hawkins, Travis Boak and Emily Mannix playing football and netball in Melbourne, but we were extremely lucky to appoint former Cats CEO Brian Cook as our new patron.”

The funds raised will finance a full Wombat’s Wish camp later this year where children who have lost a parent get away for a weekend participating in challenging and fun practical and creative activities, which aim to encourage teamwork and build self-esteem and confidence.

“A lot of people hear about what we do at Wombat’s Wish, but not many people know about what we do,” Ms Dunne said.

“This is what events like this aim to rectify and thanks to our engaged and captive audience at the gala dinner, I believe we’ll have an even bigger turnout at our next event.”

Funds on the night were accumulated through live auctions, silent auctions, and a raffle with half the goods on hand donated by local businesses in addition to clothing donated by the Geelong Cats, Carlton Blues and Melbourne Vixens.

Ms Dunne said Wombat’s Wish will host the gala dinner every second year partnered with an alternate event to take place every other year. Those details will be released at a later date.

Donations to Wombat’s Wish can be made at www.wombatswish.org.au/donate/.