Our Fundraising Dinner

The following is an excerpt from Tony Fitzgerald's article in the Mater Dei School Newsletter dated 15 September 2011.

“What can I say about the Foundation Dinner?

What a fantastic celebration of all that is good about Mater Dei: community, hospitality, team work, generosity, commitment and most importantly, the staff and students. In only its eleventh year, the result of the dinner on Saturday night, took the total raised in that time for Mater Dei to $2 million.So many people are responsible for the success of the dinner but none more so than the organising committee led by Chair Phil McCarroll and including Jim Marsden, John Adam, Angus Cox, Martin Cascarino, Kevin O'Keefe and of course, Debbie Gates whose attention to detail and commitment to Mater Dei is quite unique. Thank you especially to Phil McCarroll and his committee. These people garner the support of colleagues in the business community but most importantly, they lead from the front in giving generously of their own time, wisdom and resources. They are also the strongest advocates of Mater Dei.

Thank you to the many, many sponsors who ensure the financial success of the dinner but especially to Platinum Sponsors; Inghams Enterprises, Gold Sponsors; the Campbelltown Catholic Club, David Wilson Chemist and Perich Group/Oran Park Town. Thank you to our Master of Ceremonies, Mr Steve Edge, who brings great warmth and dedication to his role on the night. To the volunteers who worked with Debbie and Lee to ensure a smooth event; thank you. To the 600 guests who attended, bought raffle tickets, made pledges, bid on auction items or simply marvelled at the work of the Mater Dei staff, parents and students; thank you to you also.

To the Mater Dei staff, each and every one of them, who contributed either on the night or in the lead up to the event in preparing the students a special thank you and in particular, to Mr Andre Daniels who choreographed and taught both students and teachers to dance and sing, Miss Katie Roberts and Mrs Eryn Lonergan who worked with Andre to prepare the students in the choir as well as dancing with the students and to the staff who participated in the dancing; Julie Burge, Mrs Mary Rudd, Mrs Rebecca Gibbs, Mrs Leigh Hough, Ms Sam Giles, Mrs Donna Dunstan, Mrs Alison Meani, thank you. Also to Mrs Leanne Steedman who once again worked with our students to prepare the artwork on the night, thank you.

And to our Mater Dei mum, Gina Walsh, who represented Michael, the Walsh family and all of the families of Mater Dei in sharing the Walsh story, a special thank you for a story beautifully told.

It was impossible to be anything other than immensely proud and grateful on Saturday. Proud of our students, our staff, our parents and of the greater community of Mater Dei who engage so warmly with our work with the students.And grateful for the interest, support and generosity that is shown us by our extended community. The final word of recognition is for the students, those for whom this extraordinary effort is made. Their gift is that they build this community in a way that is impossible to plan.Their performance on Saturday; singing, dancing and graciously and warmly welcoming guests was once again the highlight of a wonderful celebration. The words of one of the songs the choir sang on Saturday I think sums it all up: