A SURFBOARD, a prop representing a green Kombi van, an inflatable pineapple and beachwear are some of the items suggesting the theme for the charity ball held Saturday night.
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There’s another key difference besides the theme for this year’s Mount Isa Ronald McDonald House North Queensland Charity Ball.
The location changes from the Mount Isa Civic Centre to the Lumen Christi Centre at Good Shepherd Catholic College.
Charity ball committee member Kate Brewster said the entrance to the ball will be at Gate 2 at the school in Camooweal Street.
There is an extra gold sponsor supporting the event. Mount Isa Mining Supplies joins Glencore, Bell & Moir Toyota and Isadraulics in the upper echelons of the charity ball corporate supporters.
Mount Isa Mining Supplies’ owner Brett Peterson said the company was previously a bronze sponsor but looked for money to spare to increase its support. “It really is an outstanding event. When I walked into the ballroom last year I was very amazed at what I saw.”
Isadraulics’ director Ryan Mackenzie is involved in the preparations, having recently joined the committee.
The father of a family that needed the house phoned Mr Mackenzie last year to thank him for his support. And recently an Isadraulics employee needed the House.
“In the last 12 months it’s (the House) touched us twice, by a stranger and by one of our employees,” Mr Mackenzie said.
Lee and Linda Pulman, from Bell & Moir Toyota, have constantly supported the charity ball because one of their children was born prematurely. The Pulmans have used the Ronald McDonald House, and so have staff members in recent years. They see their continued support as “locals supporting locals.”
Glencore’s new executive general manager of North Queensland’s copper assets, Deon van der Mescht, moved to the Isa three weeks ago but has come from the isolated NSW mining town of Cobar.
He knew that specialist care was a long way from home. “Without access to the House a large number of families would need to go to great expense to be with their children while they undergo treatment.”
Glencore’s Zinc Assets’ general manager for processing Fran Burgess agreed, adding that the company identified health support services and facilities as a priority for North Queensland communities.
