Organisers of Armidale’s first Nightingale Ball are calling on the community to buy tickets and offer sponsorship, with just 10 tickets sold so far and a deadline fast approaching.
The black-tie fundraiser, planned for Saturday, 26 September at The Bistro, University of New England, aims to raise money for the Armidale Rural Referral Hospital Nurses and Midwives Education Committee. Tickets cost $90 and include a three-course meal and live entertainment.
Frances Miller, After Hours Clinical Nurse Educator at Armidale Rural Referral Hospital, said she needs ticket sales to pick up before a 10 September deadline, when she must confirm with the venue whether the event will go ahead.
“I just need tickets purchased by the 10th of September because it’s my deadline to let the venue know if we’re going ahead or not,” Ms Miller said.
The Education Committee had been on hold for several years before Ms Miller restarted it after moving into the after-hours educator role three years ago. Since then, she has raised funds by selling snacks to staff around the wards, along with cake stalls and a trivia night hosted by the Railway Hotel, to support education days for nurses and midwives.
The ball is the committee’s biggest fundraising push yet, and its first time running an event of this scale.
Ms Miller said her goal is to build a fund that can subsidise postgraduate study for nurses and midwives, something city-based staff can often access through scholarships that are not available in regional areas.
“It’d be lovely if we could raise enough money on an ongoing basis to help either subsidise, even if it’s one unit, but postgraduate study for nurses,” Ms Miller said.
She said the fund would also help send local nurses and midwives to national conferences, which usually means covering airfares, accommodation, meals and registration fees on top of limited support from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Ms Miller said further education is especially important in rural areas, where nurses often take on a bigger role due to doctor shortages.
“Nurses are having to step up and to fulfil some of those roles, not all of them, of course, but sometimes we are the doctor’s eyes and ears,” Ms Miller said.
The venue can seat up to 150 guests, and Ms Miller said she would like to fill it, though 50 guests would allow the ball to proceed.
“Whatever I can get is more than what we would have if I didn’t do it,” Ms Miller said.
Ms Miller is also seeking local businesses and individuals to sponsor the event or contribute an item for a live fundraising auction on the night.
“Whether it be businesses or individuals who would like to donate to the fund, either an item to auction off or a financial contribution, it would all be greatly received,” Ms Miller said.
Ms Miller said the ball is a chance for the community to give something back to its nurses and midwives.
“People say how wonderful our nurses are, well, this is a way I guess of giving back to them,” Ms Miller said. “We are a community service, and we’re asking just for some support.”
Anyone wanting to buy tickets, book a table or discuss sponsorship can contact Ms Miller at Frances.Miller@health.nsw.gov.au. Tickets are available at https://events.humanitix.com/nightingale-ball.
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