Our 2019 Ladies Lunch was certainly bigger, better and pinker, raising an incredible $132,000!
This year, we were welcomed into our new venue, the Hyatt Regency Sydney, due to our ever increasing attendance and sold out at 650 tickets in just eight weeks.
We were astounded not only by the popularity of the lunch, but by the generosity of our guests who purchased multiple tickets and tables, raffle tickets, British Airways balloons and silent auction prizes.
The sale of raffle tickets, assembly of gift bags and more would not have been possible without our generous volunteers, including those of the Australian Defence Force from HMAS Kuttabul (Garden Island Sydney).
We would like to thank our sponsors and major supporters for their remarkable contributions to the lunch. British Airways (BA), our new Gold Prize Sponsor, came on board with two return business class flights to London. To celebrate BA’s centennial anniversary, we sold 100 balloons at $150 each with one lucky winner chosen at the end of the lunch. BA have also offered a generous 10% off flights booked direct with them at www.ba.com/SBCF.
Symphonia Wines, a wonderful family-owned vineyard lead by Suzanne Evans, have supported our lunch for the last three years and once again supplied all the delectable wines for the lunch, including a Prosecco NV, Pinot Trois Rose, Pinot Grigio 2016 and a La Solista Tempranillo 2015. Symphonia have also kindly provided all SBCF supporters with a 10% discount on all orders at www.symphoniafinewines.com.au. Simply use the code ROSE to receive your discount.
A huge thank you to our Corporate Table Sponsors: AON, Cloud Collective, DEM Australia, DLL, I-Med, JPY Group, The Learning Circle Co, Petra Capital, Richard Crookes Constructions and Westpac Institutional Bank. It was great to see so many of you back again and also some new faces.
As well as our major prize donors: Audi Mosman Centre, Calabash Bay Lodge, Camilla, Canturi, Cosmopolitan Jewellers, Eden Health Retreat, Verandah BAR and many more.
Click here for a list of our auction prize donors and supporters.
Our official host and long-time supporter MC Jessica Rowe, was as always wonderful at keeping our event moving, making it entertaining and introducing all of our speakers.
We were joined by Aunty Barbara Simms Keeley for the Welcome to Country. Barbara also spoke beautifully about the importance of Aboriginal breast cancer awareness.
We had a stunning performance by recent Channel 9 ‘The Voice’ finalist Natasha Stuart and her accompanying guitarist Joseph Calderazzo. Natasha then spoke about her experience with breast cancer and touched on how her mental health was affected post-treatment.
Our SBCF ambassador Angela Bishop was then joined by celebrated Australian fashion designer Camilla Franks for a heartfelt and personal raw account of her recent Stage III breast cancer journey. Camilla spoke about the importance of ‘being her own CEO’ when it came to the treatment of her cancer and of the love and support that she received from her partner JP and daughter Luna.
Associate Professor Sanjay Warrier, Breast Oncology and Oncoplastic Surgeon at Chris O`Brien Lifehouse, spoke about how the funds raised through the Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation have significantly supported research, surgical breast fellowships and the nipple-saving SPY machine.
The day was rounded off with excitement when the raffle was drawn, with the first prize of a donated Canturi Eternal white gold bangle up for grabs.
The BA balloon draw saw Heather Al-Hayek win the much anticipated BA flights. Heather is a previous patient of Associate Professor Sanjay Warrier and a community nurse, so it couldn’t have been won by a more deserving person. A beautiful ending to an incredible day!