ARTC Charity Ball on track to help change lives in Hunter

The Newcastle business community and resources and rail industry have once again dug deep to support a great Hunter children’s organisation as part of the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s annual charity ball this Friday.

The funds raised are all going to the Hunter chapter of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC), an organisation that helps provide vital services for children with vision or hearing loss in the Newcastle and the greater Hunter region.

“Children who are deaf or blind require consistent, expert early intervention to achieve the best outcomes – particularly through the critical early years. ARTC’s Charity Ball fundraiser will ensure that we can continue to support local children with vision or hearing loss – from newborns through to school age,” said RIDBC Chief Executive Chris Rehn.

Corporate tables and individual tickets to the Ball sold out within three weeks of going on sale and local business and community leaders will be among the 480 people bidding for a range of unique raffle prizes this Friday at Panthers Newcastle.

A Chef master class for ten including dinner, a scooter from Graeme Boyd Suzuki, international holidays, a cricket bat signed by Sachin Tendulkar and electrical goods are among live auction items up for grab.

Without doubt, the highlight will be the Hollywood jewellery raffle, seeing a $6,000 Paspaley pearl and diamond jewel won by a lucky ticket holder. 

ARTC’s Executive General Manager for the Hunter Valley, Alec MacKenzie, said the Ball provided a chance to give back to the community.

“Our Hunter Valley business is as local as it comes, we live here, we work here and we are part of the community – and that’s why it’s very important we do our bit and recognise the support the community gives us,” Mr MacKenzie said.

The Ball was an idea by the ARTC Hunter Valley Social Committee as a way of investing the money raised from office vending machines and to give the proceeds to a local charity.

The idea, and initial $2,000 investment, proved to be a great success. In 2011, the inaugural ball raised over $77,000 for the Starlight Foundation and in 2012, over $94,000 was raised for the Newcastle chapter of the Miracle Babies Foundation.

“The funds raised stay in the Hunter, are for the families of the Hunter and have supported some great local causes,” Mr Mackenzie said.

ARTC would like to thank its main sponsors of the evening including Leighton Contractors, GHD, UTS Rail, de Witt Consulting, John Holland, Ansaldo STS, Downer, Strategic Rail Advisory Services and Calibre Global.

Find out more about our sponsors and other supporters of the night online at: www.artcharityball.com

Go to top