Step back in time to the roaring twenties at the inaugural Lifeline New England North West Gala Ball, themed ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’.
This enchanting evening of glamour and giving will take place on Saturday, June 28, from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre (TRECC).
“We are so excited for this event, it is like nothing Tamworth has ever seen before.” said Event organiser Kimberley Squires from Lifeline New England North West.
Guests are invited to don their finest black-tie attire and 1920s-inspired glamour for a night filled with vintage charm and festive cheer. The evening will feature a decadent four-course banquet showcasing the finest local produce, including Wagyu beef from Jack’s Creek and turkey from Baiada, complemented by a premium beverage package.
When planning the event, Ms Squires said no stone was left unturned, with food, décor and entertainment all being of the highest quality.
“We want people to walk away from the night thinking to themselves ‘Oh my goodness, that was amazing’,” she said.
When asked where inspiration for the event came from, Ms Squires said she owes a great deal of thanks to Kylie Lewis from Tamworth City Toyota, an organisation who have also stepped up as major sponsors for the evening.
“Kylie comes from Orange and we all know what beautiful events Orange hold – so she’d been looking for an opportunity to bring some of that inspiration to Tamworth,” said Ms Squires.
“Ever since then we’ve just been two incredibly creative women basically just having the most beautiful time bouncing ideas off each other and making this event a reality.”
Behind what will be a night of glitz and glamour is a very real, very important cause. By attending, guests will be contributing to Lifeline New England North West’s mission to provide lifesaving crisis support to those in their toughest life moments.
“In the Tamworth LGA alone, we receive over 50 crisis calls a month,” said Ms Squires.
Ms Squires herself volunteers 4 hours per fortnight to act as a contact for people reaching out in times of need.
“I never anticipated working in the crisis support field but I felt that if I was going to be working in recruiting people for these roles, I needed to understand what it was we were asking of people first hand,” said Ms Squires.
“Mental illness is a strong person’s illness – you’re in a position where you feel terrible but you have to be strong enough to advocate for yourself and seek the help you need. That’s a difficult place to be and it’s even more difficult in a regional area.”
“I honestly feel that the people who make that phone call to us and reach out for help are incredible and I’m incredibly privileged to be in a position to help.”
Almost everything from the food, to the chefsm to the entertainment on the evening has been donated.
“I’m just blown away by the support we’ve had from the community for this event,” said Ms Squires.
Entertainment will be provided by country music legend Lee Kernaghan who reportedly blocked off his calendar 12 months in advance to be able to donate his time and perform on the night.
In a first, he will be backed by local band Splashpool and local singer-songwriter Ashleigh Dallas will also take to the stage to perform a very special, heartfelt song about her own experience in managing difficult times.
The evening will also include exciting silent and live auctions, with all funds raised supporting Lifeline’s vital crisis services in the region
Tickets are priced at $195 per person, with tables of ten available for $1,950. Each ticket includes the four-course meal and beverage package.
Ms Squires tells us the event is now totally sold out but be sure too keep an eye out for next year’s ball, as this event promises to be a regular highlight on the regional calendar for years to come!
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the official event page.
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