MAYORAL BALL DONATIONS ADVANCING EDUCATION IN BALONNE

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Mayoral Ball raised a record $65,515.85, which was donated to the Country Universities Centre Balonne Bursary Fund at this week’s graduation ceremony.

This takes the grand total of contributions from the past three Mayoral Balls to over $161,000.00 towards helping students at CUC Balonne with study resources and travel while they focus on achieving their tertiary educational goals. 

To date, the CUC Balonne has received 336 registrations, which is well over the original target of 38 and over $80,000 has been distributed to students through the Bursary Fund. 

Mayor Samantha O’Toole was delighted to hand over the $65,515.85 proceeds to the CUC Balonne Bursary Fund and present certificates to the 18 newest CUC Balonne graduates. 

“The Country Universities Centre Balonne has been such a successful and welcomed addition to our Shire”, said Mayor O’Toole. 

“From our original target of 38 students over four years, we never in our wildest dreams  imagined the successful uptake of over 336 students registering in three years. 

“The Balonne Shire Mayoral Ball was originally started as a fundraising event to support students with funding for their resources and travel needs and the three to date have become just as successful as the CUC itself.

“I am so proud of the fundraising success we’ve achieved from the Mayoral Ball’s to support CUC students wanting to stay in the Shire with family and friends while they achieve their educational goals. 

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to each of our Mayoral Ball’s, as the $161,000 we’ve raised is an exceptional effort and goes a long way towards supporting our students in Balonne.

“Most of the bursary funding has supported students studying nursing, education and agriculture, which is exactly the kind of educational backgrounds we are wanting to attract to our region.

“I am very much looking forward to next year’s Mayoral Ball and hope to exceed this year’s record amount.”

Sponsors for the 2024 Mayoral Ball included Rollers, Lonergan, AH & JH Earthmoving, Durack Civil, Field Solutions Group, Cubbie Ag, Ever Energy, Tierney Crushing, Telstra, McInnes Wilson, Lowes, Southwest Water Trucks, Proterra Group, RPQ Spray Seal, Precision Aerial, All Energy, Balonne Air Works, Hastings Deering, JJ Richards and Complete Urban.