A night of dining, dancing and auctions for more than 500 guests has raised a record $292,095 for a charity that comes to the rescue of people when they need it most.
LifeFlight Sunshine Coast gala attendees dug deep at a glitzy, Palm Springs-themed event at the Novotel Sunshine Coast Convention Centre on Saturday night.
The auction items included a specialty 1962-Malibu replica surfboard designed by Sunshine Coast surfing legend Hayden Kenny, which was snapped up for $11,000 by Emma Bowyer.
There was a surprise twist when Ms Bowyer’s winning bid was matched by LifeFlight Foundation chair Stewart Morland for a second surfboard to be crafted by Mr Kenny.
Mr Kenny was key in establishing the Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service in 1979.
Attendees also had the chance to step into a LifeFlight crew member’s shoes for a few hours, with a Helicopter Underwater Escape Training simulator experience going for $3500 at the LifeFlight Training Academy.
For those seeking a different kind of thrill, the Grenfell Murray Mega Diamond Raffle offered a 1.52-carat brilliant cut diamond with a value of $16,500.
The Terri-Anne Murray-Amber Werchon Balloon Pop saw another guest go home $5000 richer.
Guests at the event, presented by Altus Group, also heard about two remarkable rescue stories from the past few years.
They included Yarren, the boy who was airlifted in 2023 after he suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction to hairy caterpillars.
They also got to watch Maverick Robbins’ amazing survival story after he was rescued following a paragliding crash into a sand cliff at Rainbow Beach late last year.
LifeFlight Sunshine Coast and South Burnett Regional Advisory Committee chair Brendon Murray said funds raised would help fit out the LifeFlight Sunshine Coast Aeromedical Hub, which is under construction and includes expanded crew quarters and a patient transfer room, and the Jocelyn Walker Visitor Experience Centre.
“This special charity event really showcases the Sunshine Coast’s commitment to LifeFlight and the aeromedical care it provides the region,” Mr Murray said.
“The Sunshine Coast-based helicopter helped 569 people last year, and the demand for our service keeps growing.
“The strong turnout emphasises the immense support the Sunshine Coast community offers LifeFlight.
“We couldn’t have achieved this amount of success without the passion and generosity of local businesses and community members.
“We’ve even had a local surfing icon and LifeFlight founding member Hayden Kenny craft a board just for tonight.
“I’d like to thank everyone who worked tirelessly to bring this event to life and to our wonderful patients who have bravely shared their stories.”
LifeFlight vice-patron Brendon Murray said the gala continued to reach new heights.
“This is such a great chance for the community to get together and celebrate the past year’s achievements as well as the great developments to come,” she said.
