Supporters’ generosity buoys annual dinner to new heights!
More than 300 Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA supporters filled the UTS Aerial Function Centre on Monday night to celebrate Sydney’s premier union event.
In what was arguably one of our best events yet, our annual Sydney fundraising dinner surpassed last year’s event and raised more than $20,000 to support solidarity projects around the world.
We also signed up 42 new members, including guest speaker and award winning Journalist Matt Peacock who jokingly said his lack of membership was an oversight, particularly as he had been a long-time supporter.
As the focus of the evening was asbestos. Matt Peacock was also joined by Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency CEO Peter Tighe who detailed the dangers the deadly dust continues to have in Australia, South-East Asia and around the world.
Alongside supporting ongoing APHEDA projects, dinner guests also joined in to support the ‘Let Them Stay’ and ‘Marriage Equality’ campaigns.
Early in the night our Chairperson Angelo Gavrielatos led attendees in a chant to support refugee rights, while throughout the evening guests backed marriage equality by posting solidarity photos to ‘#voteyes’.
After guests worked their way through their meal, the highlight of the night came as MUA National Officer Mich-Elle Myers took to the stage to encourage guests to open their wallets in the live auction.
The union movement’s generosity was on display as individuals and groups attempted to outbid each other for the stellar prizes on offer. However, it was the signed ‘78ers Union Pride’ t-shirt which proved most popular with the MUA winning the historical item for an evening high of $2000.
Proving the popularity of the event, #APHEDAdinner trended second in Sydney on Twitter thanks to the support and dedication of dinner guests.
Not resting on our laurels, plans are already underway for 2018’s fundraising dinner and we’re determined to make it bigger and better than ever!