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$30K raised in sell-out Hope Dinner |
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It was a sensational sell-out event that packed 373 guests into the Wests Illawarra Leagues Club for the first Inaugural Hope Rwanda Charity Dinner hosted by current NSW Origin and Dragons star Justin Poore. With a action-packed line up boasting an up-close-and-personal interview with legend coach Wayne Bennett, a set by Australian Idol sensation Jessica Mauboy and 5 African drummers who were a hit with the crowd.
Pictured: (left to right) Paul Osborne, Justin Poore, Wayne Bennett, Cara Langendam, Darlene Zschech, Mark Zschech, Rachel Christie.
The charity dinner raised a total of $30,000 through live and silent auctions and a raffle which gave the chance to win 2 tickets to Tahiti with accommodation. (Thanks JC Travel!) Many local businesses in the Illawarra were represented and it is a credit to the people of this district for their generosity and support.
Photo: Capturing the room on the night. (photo courtesy of 16images)
The highlight of the night was a interview with Wayne Bennett where the 373 guests were listening so intently that there wasn't even a murmur or shuffle in the room. It was obvious the huge respect of all the guests felt for the great man who spoke with quiet authority and humility of his family, coaching career and goals for the future of the Dragons and the game.
 
Pictured: Wayne Bennett captures the room; Jessica Mauboy at her chart-topping best.
Photo: Some of the other entertainment from the night. (photo courtesy of 16images)
Some of the comments so far:
"I just wanted to say thank you and that everyone had a great time at the function and you should be congratulated on how well it was run."
"I would like to thank you and your team for a great night out last night. We all had a ball. We hope the evening was a success in raising some funds and awareness. We would like to be the first to book in for next year! Thank you and well done."
"Just a quick note of congratulations for last night. Extremely well planned and executed, a credit to both you and Justin. Everyone on my table commented on how smoothly the night ran."
On behalf of Poore Rwanda we would like to thank the guests, sponsors and donors for their support.
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End of year footy trip to Rwanda |
You wouldn’t think after a long, hard footy season that many players would be interested in travelling to a third world country in deepest Africa would you? But that’s exactly what Justin Poore and five other NRL players did in October of 2008. Paul Osborne, a former Canberra Raiders legend, hand picked a group of players from the NRL to join him on a life changing experience to Rwanda. Paul’s main objective was to focus on positive events in the NRL, rather than dwelling on negative issues, and on a personal level to provide the players with the opportunity to sow back into others less fortunate than themselves.
Paul is organizing for another group of players to travel with him this October to assist with the ongoing development in the Village of Hope. The Village of Hope is a charity project which builds houses for widows and orphans allowing them to build a whole new family. No doubt this will be another trip that will be life changing and have lasting memories. |
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