The Group One Decades Gala Dinner, celebrating ten years of the Dainere’s Rainbow Fund, continuing the extremely inspiring work of the extraordinary Dainere Anthoney, was held at the Ainslie Football and Social Club on Saturday 14th June 2024.
Walking into the Ainslie Football and Social Club embarking the climb up the stairs to the function space, large silver balloons floated gently marking ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty and ninety creating a feel of passing through time. As one walked closer to the double entrance doors, there was a display of all the Gala Dinner posters over the years, now that brought back some fabulous memories and on the television screens across from that was images of a multitude of smiling faces, a visual masterpiece of past events and beside that the moving and poignant story of Dainere.
At the Entrance to the function space there was none other than Marilyn Monroe and Taylor Swift (cardboard versions), displayed near these two iconic women was an elegant and very clear table numbers and names of guests, there were a little under two hundred guests attending on the evening, not too bad given the cost-of-living crisis we are all facing. The Canberra Community and beyond have enormous hearts when it comes to supporting others.
The doors opened to reveal a spectacularly decorated room, the first thing capturing a guest’s attention was the shimmering gold decades wall, by Meraki Events Canberra, which provided the perfect opportunity to capture those serious, fun and totally unusual group photographs. Beside this were the bright and bubbly Graceful Rose Parties duo of Deirdre and Grace who were twisting and shaping totally magnificent balloons for guests and then busily sketching was the talented and creative Chris from Cartoons by Chris, who perfectly captured guests on A3 paper for them to take home. Then a wonderful surprise, Jarrett (Dainere’s Brother), was there with his Jackson V Guitar and looking very dapper playing instrumental guitar pieces that he composed himself, a very talented young man.
Speaking of the guests, so many went to the most extraordinary effort in dressing up from their favourite decade, there was something from just about every decade which really added to the atmosphere of the event. The table numbers were colourful Dainere’s Rainbow artwork records and the table centrepieces which were created by Meraki Events Canberra, actually had genuine LP records and adorned by flowers.
The photographer for the evening Corinne from Red Fox Photography was snapping shots of guests as they arrived and received their pre-dinner drinks and was here, there and everywhere throughout the evening and the photographs were nothing short of magical and phenomenal. A guest from every table were also fortunate enough to receive a mini session with Red Fox Photography as a lucky door prize. Now that is just astounding!
The MC for the evening was none other than the experienced, comical and fabulous Michael Bower, who really is the best in the business and being a Celebrant as well, he has even married some of the guests over the years (not at the event, but perhaps that could be on the cards).
The evening kicked off with the extremely talented and energetic young dancers aged eight to seventeen from Play The Dance Agency, they captured the guest’s attention with their skill and also the choice of music YMCA, Footloose and more. As they left the building for the evening, they received cheers and prolonged applause.
Dr Sumanth Nagabushan was the distinguished guest speaker and he spoke so humbly and with such passion, he had every guest’s full attention as he spoke about how important the funds raised at Dainere’s Rainbow events are making an impact. It is so encouraging to hear this as one hundred percent of all funds raised at Dainere’s Rainbow events go directly to working to bring hope and create change for every child diagnosed with brain cancer in Canberra and around Australia.
There was a wonderful assortment of Live and Silent Auction items available, giving everyone an opportunity to bid on something. The raffle prizes were aimed at helping with the cost of living with the first prize being $1000 cash. The ultimate Live Auction Prize was an exclusive and rare opportunity to cruise the Sydney Harbour the luxurious 85ft Toro yacht.
Big Boss Groove entertained the guests with some of their more mellow numbers during main course, the impressive nine-piece band, horns and all, had guests wanting to get up and dance as soon as their delicious meal was eaten.
It was then time for what has become part of the entertainment, the gratitude speech by the ‘dynamic duo’ of John the fund Patron and Mark the fund Ambassador, who enthralled the guests with a speech that cleverly embraced the decades. Group One Pty Ltd, Simeco Pty Ltd, DC Flooring Specialists Pty Ltd and Transit Graphics recognised and acknowledged as the event Partners as well as all the Community Partners and others who helped create such a memorable evening.
Stephen, Yvonne, Nalani (with her gorgeous little daughter Ebony) and Jarrett, shared stories of Dainere from how she first started fundraising, her books as her starlight wish and to help others, her passion to raise awareness and funds through planning City2Surf with Jarrett and the Inaugural Gala Dinner where two hundred and ninety-one guests fitted into a room meant for just two hundred and fifty, so great was the impact Dainere made on others and continues to.
There was one last surprise and that was Jarrett invited up on stage to play the Bon Jovi favourite Livin’ on a Prayer, which was definitely a crowd pleaser, even cardboard ‘Taylor Swift’ got on the dancefloor for this one. Guests filled the dancefloor as Big Boss Groove brought out all the cover band favourites and more over the decades for the rest of the evening, as guests were singing, dancing and celebrating a memorable evening and raising vital awareness and crucial funds for children with brain cancer.
*Images from the event are available through a link sent to the person who organised your table. Please remember to credit Red Fox Photography if sharing any images.
