KRISTINA TRAJKOVSKI
Police are ditching their uniforms and getting their glam on at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast this weekend to raise vital funds hospital funds for their local communities.
The Police and Community Charity Ball has been organised by the Queensland Police Service, the New South Wales Police Force and the Australian Federal Police as a tri-agency event to raise vital funds for local hospitals and families in the community who are struggling to deal with serious medical challenges.
The ball, which will be held on Saturday August 24 at the Star Casino on the Gold Coast, will treat guests to canapes, a three-course meal and a five-hour drink package.
The evening will be hosted by talkback radio broadcaster and Channel Nine commentator, Ray Hadley.
There will also be performances by the Queensland Police Service band, Band of Blues.
The much needed funds will be raised via both live and silent auctions throughout the evening, as well as via raffles.
The money raised from the ball will then be divided evenly between the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation and the United Hospital Auxiliaries of NSW Inc.
Queensland Police Inspector Bruce Khun, who is the 2019 chair of the board of committees for the ball, said the event, which is in its second year, started out as a simple idea by a local police superintendent.
Superintendent Wayne Starling from Tweed Heads Police had the idea of holding an event that would bring the community and local police together.
“Wayne Starling wanted to highlight local relationships and community engagement in his own area of northern NSW, and also focus on the policing/community relationships encompassing all three jurisdictions in the Southern Gold Coast areas,” Inspector Khun said.
“The goal has always been for police and community to join for positive interaction and raise as much money as possible for the children’s wards at Gold Coast and Tweed Heads hospitals,” he said.
“Last year, the Ball raised over $67,000, which was evenly donated to purchase specialist equipment.”
“Tweed Heads Hospital hoped to replace a paediatric bed and they were able to replace all six.”
Inspector Khun said the committee was made up of officers from each of the three police agencies, the AFP, the NSWPF and the QPS.
“This year, members of the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, as recipients of fundraising, have also joined the committee to assist with planning,” he said.
“Last year’s event was hosted by NSWPF and this year it is QPS on the Gold Coast,” Mr Khun said.
Gold Coast Hospital Foundation CEO Ben Cox said the money raised at last year’s event helped the Foundation to acquire much needed equipment from department wish lists, which helped both patients and staff.
“These funds will directly help sick and injured children being treated in Gold Coast Health facilities,” Mr Cox said.
The Gold Coast Hospital Foundation used the 2018 ball funds to buy a range of vital equipment, including equipment to assist children with cerebral palsy, for the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service children’s wards.
Tickets to the Police and Community Charity Ball cost $150 per person and are available at Eventbrite.
