More than 190 people gathered at Narooma Golf Club at the inaugural Red Poppy Ball on Saturday night raising an incredible $16,000 for homeless war veterans.
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Hosted by Narooma RSL Sub-Branch, the Red Poppy Ball was held to raise money and awareness for “Homes for Heroes” an organisation that helps veterans get back on the feet after combat related illness, by providing a comprehensive rehabilitation service that focuses on finding shelter, getting well, getting back in touch with everyday life and in many cases, gaining new skills to start afresh.
Homes for Heroes representative Elizabeth Jenkins was in attendance to receive a mock cheque made out to the organisation, amounting to an estimated $16,000 that the evening made from proceeds.
She outlined the challenges facing veterans and the organisation. “We take it for granted that everyday things like going to the shops or even talking to people are skills that anyone can cope with – mental illness is crippling and Australia is losing the battle to veteran suicide and this needs to be reversed.”
The night including dancing, a three-course meal, raffles, silent auction including a voucher from Narooma Ice-Creamery was purchased for more than its value, auctions including works from local artists and sporting memorabilia and 100 balloons, representing 100 years of RSL in Australia were popped throughout the evening for the “last balloon standing”.
Narooma RSL sub-branch president Paul Naylor said that he was very pleased and proud of the result and very grateful to all the businesses that supported the inaugural event.
As a veteran himself, he confessed to having his own “demons” and that the work of Homes for Heroes helped to ensure that the demons don’t win.
The Narooma Red Poppy Ball Project plans to host another function in two years’ time and the crew hope that it will be even bigger and better than this one.
