PAGE 2 - “THE STAR”, Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Inverloch dances for a cause SOUTH Gippslanders continue to dance and shop to raise funds for a diabetes screening program at the Royal Children’s Hospital. The annual Royal Children’s Hospital Diabetic Ball lured 280 people to the Inverloch Community Hub on Saturday night. The event raised more than $40,000 to support a complications screening program for children with type one diabetes at the hospital in Melbourne. The Beauglehall family of Inverloch has organised the event with a dedicated band of volunteers for 15 years. Their daughter Carla Poletti was diagnosed with type one diabetes as a child. Guests enjoyed a three course meal in the hall decorated to a Moulin Rouge theme and danced to local band The Stiletto Group, which has donated their services for every one of the 15 balls.
Professor George Wurther and Dr Michelle O’Connor, from the hospital, spoke about the screening program and research that is only funded by proceeds from the ball. The crowd was silent as they watched a video showing images of diabetic children, some of them self injecting. “Since the ball started, complications have gone from 30 per cent to two per cent,” Kerrie Beauglehall said. “Type one diabetes does not go away when you leave the Royal Children’s Hospital. It is with you every second of your life.” The auction – conducted by Scott Hughes of LJ Hooker Real Estate of Inverloch – raised $20,000, with corporate boxes to the Geelong versus Collingwood match making $6500, and a Collingwood signed guernsey topping $1100. Twenty-six people had the chance to try to unlock a box to win weekend away, sponsored by LJ Hooker Real Estate. Winner Ken Harris
Making it happen: main ball organisers, the Beauglehall family of Inverloch: Kerrie Beauglehall, Carla Poletti, Brett Beauglehall, Laura Beauglehall and Ross Beauglehall.
of Leongatha has attended every ball. Badges were presented by Professor Wurther in honour of volunteers’ services. Fifteen year badges were given to Kerrie, Ross, Brett and Laura Beauglehall; Carla Poletti; Heather and Trevor Dowson; Heather and Don Atkins; Sheila Forster; Greg Tabner; Maree Peel; Maureen and Gerard Joss; Phil and Tina Bowden; and Gaye and Graeme Murphy. Darryl Thomas - catering for his last ball - received a 10 year service badge and badges marking five years’ service went to: Lloyd Bennetts, Roz Hulls, Beryl Millman, Barbara Houston, Derek and Lorraine Banks, and Paul Poletti. A highlight of the evening was a conga line dance led by Bill Phillips of Inverloch in his wheelchair. Bill, a much loved man about town, is recovering from a stroke. People travelled from as a far as interstate for the event and among the crowd were 15 doctors from the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Family occasion: at the Royal Children’s Hospital Diabetic Dance were Heather, Don and Meagan Atkins
Left: Fine night: Judy and Trevor Brewster.
Focusing on fishing: the state’s peak fishing body, VR Fish, held an open house session at Inverloch on Saturday, to find out anglers’ views on how fishing could be improved in Anderson Inlet. At the event were Murray MacDonald, Donald Tipping, Therese Bruce, Doug Walsh, Dick Brumley, Rebecca Jol, June Laycock, Paul Hardy-Smith, Trevor Buck, Ross Drury, Chris Collins and Max Fletcher.