By DYLAN BROWN
Friday, 25 October 2024 will forever be a date to remember for The Disability Trust – the day the organisation came together with the community to celebrate 50 years of creating a more inclusive world for everyone.
More than 250 guests from far and wide attended our 50-Year Anniversary Ball at the Grand Ballroom of the Novotel Northbeach Wollongong.
The black-tie event was all about The Disability Trust’s participants and people with disability.
All the keynote speakers and performers on stage were people with disability in what was a memorable night of fun, nostalgia and celebrations as we looked back on five decades of significant achievements.
With pianist Alex Marjanovic’s smooth sounds greeting the guests upon entry, there was anticipation in the air as the well-dressed stakeholders, staff and participants set the mood for a night of nights.
Upon entering the ballroom, a stirring welcome to country was delivered by Aunty Sharralyn Robinson.
The emcees for the ball then took to the stage – The Disability Trust board member Carol Heijo and local performer Jordan Bowater.
Guests were then entertained by a presentation featuring some of the key moments and the inside story of The Disability Trust’s growth from a small organisation in 1974 started by local parents in the Illawarra to one of Australia’s largest disability service providers.
The Music Makers performed a stunning dance routine before Jordan and his Strangeways theatre ensemble colleague, Ethan Arnold, performed a comedic skit entitled “A Spider in My Room”.
After earlier displaying his talents on the piano, Alex returned to wow the crowd with a fabulous rendition of the Aerosmith hit “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”.
The Disability Trust Chief Executive Officer Carol Berry was joined by her predecessor and current board member Margaret Bowen and the chair of our organisation, Dr Peter Langkamp, for a cake cutting ceremony as part of the 50-year festivities.
And then it was time to dance with The Rockits band belting out a string of hit songs which had the room jumping.
Board member Dr Shane Clifton wrapped up the formalities for the evening with a vote of thanks before DJ Amped ended the night with over an hour of hits with the dancefloor full of guests shimmying and shaking to cap off an amazing night.
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