“This is community.”
Those were the words of Rachel McKay as she surveyed the crowded Cobram Civic Centre on the night of Saturday, April 27.
The Fairley Leadership, Love Your Sister Gala Dinner organiser was rightly pleased as hundreds packed into the Civic Centre for a night of fun and laughter as they raised awareness of the work the Love Your Sister cancer organisation.
Ms McKay participated in the Fairley Leadership program in 2023 which aims to develop leaders across the Goulburn Murray region and NSW Border communities.
As part of the course, Ms McKay was required to organise an event and she, along with fellow Cobram organisers/program participants Marissa Daly and Meena Malla decided to combine a celebratory post-Covid gala event with raising money for a worthy cause, in their case the Love Your Sister charity.
The charity was co-founded by brother-sister duo Samuel (a Logie winning actor) and Connie Johnson after Connie was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
The charity’s aim is to raise money for cancer research, specifically in precision medicine, so that one day families wouldn’t have to suffer the loss of a loved one due to cancer.
The completely sold-out event featured a speech by Samuel Johnson, entertainment by former X-Factor contestant Andrew Wishart was sold out with everyone from local politicians, council staff and social groups, to school students attending and helping out.
Ms McKay said the event has been a huge success.
“It's been fabulous,” she said.
“There are people everywhere and it's just enormous.”
Samuel Johnson agreed, saying he wasn’t used to such huge crowds and his sister would be proud.
“My sister would be super proud,” he said.
“My sister understands the importance of going town to town talking about precision medicine.”
Samuel Johnson praised the organisers of the gala for their efforts in putting together such a great event.
A total of $40,000 was raised at the event.