Saturday night’s “Dinner With The Captains” looks to have raised more than $50,000 for the Cancer Council of Queensland … and taken the South Burnett Relay For Life fundraising tally to well over $1 million!
Kingaroy Town Hall was packed to overflowing with sports fans eager to hear this year’s captains speak: former Test Cricket great Ian Chappell, the “king” of Rugby League Wally Lewis, and Nikki Hudson, the most capped player in the history of the Hockeyroos.
The trio were interviewed individually on stage by former South Burnett mayor – and sports tragic – Wayne Kratzmann.
The sports stars shared inside stories and gossip from their long careers.
Diners went home with no illusions about Chappelli’s “fondness” for former English captain Ian Botham, and perhaps were a tad shocked by one of Nikki’s quips, but were totally won over by the “Emperor of Lang Park”.
The audience was spellbound by Wally’s stories about his time at Valleys, Wynnum-Manly and the Broncos; and playing for Queensland and Australia … even if he did admit that at one stage he had entertained dreams of playing at Manly-Warringah.
The three-course dinner was prepared by chef Jimmy Stephen and his team from Dusty Hill, with assistance from Jason Ford and a squad of TAFE hospitality students.
School students waited on tables and took drinks orders.
After the sports stars finished on stage, attention turned to the serious part of the evening: raising funds.
There was a multi-prize raffle, silent auction and a live auction led by former Kingaroy auctioneer Dennis Cotter, who came back from Papua New Guinea for the evening.
One of the highlights of the auction was a souvenir cricket bat signed by the late Don Bradman. This simple piece of willow sold for $2600.
Six purple cricket balls, signed by the three captains, were sold for $375 each.
2016 is the eleventh year that the South Burnett has hosted a Relay For Life event.
Committee president Rowena Dionysius said 32 teams had entered so far for this year’s Relay – to be held on October 8-9 at the Kingaroy Showgrounds – but she was hoping for even more.
Registrations for the 2016 South Burnett Relay For Life can be made online
2 Responses to "Guests Had A Ball With Three Captains"
Thanks Anne and Dafyd for a great article and pics – much appreciated. Hope you guys enjoyed the night too!
I noticed there was an Emslie and wondered if she was a relative. We lived in Kingaroy and Oakey in the late 1960s and Dad (Allan) was a Bank Johnny there. Trying to trace family history. Dad seems to remember the Rackemanns and McDermotts. Just any memories. Thanks for your time.
Thanks Anne and Dafyd for a great article and pics – much appreciated. Hope you guys enjoyed the night too!
I noticed there was an Emslie and wondered if she was a relative. We lived in Kingaroy and Oakey in the late 1960s and Dad (Allan) was a Bank Johnny there. Trying to trace family history. Dad seems to remember the Rackemanns and McDermotts. Just any memories. Thanks for your time.