LifeFlight Gala Ball 2021
Safe to say, there is a lot of hype around Toowoomba jeweller, Ryley Jewellery Creations, studio and workshop leading up to the annual LifeFlight Gala Ball, and this year was absolutely no exception!
With the Coronavirus pandemic raging across the globe last year, it was with great sadness and disappointment that the 2020 Gala Ball was cancelled. However, all that planning did not go to waste with the Foundation and the organising committee throwing the biggest and most incredible LifeFlight Magic and Miracles Gala Ball in 2021 at Rumours International which was proudly presented by IADC.
Our Staff and Supporters from left to right: Nick Butterworth, Olivia Butterworth, Caroline Lamb, Janessa Lawson, Christel Ryley, Ewen Ryley, Tiona Pemberton, Doyle Krueger, Ashley Wright, Sam Wright.
Ryley Jewellery Creations has supported the event since 2017 and this year was no exception! In fact, if anything it was even more important for us to raise some much needed funds for the Foundation after having one of our very own clients requiring the life-saving service just days before his own wedding. You only need to hear the incredible life-saving stories of past patients to have a reason to support the cause.
Tim Smith and Kim Smith speaking with Geoff McDonald about their LifeFlight experience.
The gala event has had much success with the Ryley Jewellery Creations Balloon Grab which involves attendees purchasing a balloon (or more as it turned out this year), one of which contains the lucky slip of paper stating they have won their very own Ryley jewellery creation. The Balloon Grab raises a mammoth $20,000 each year.
The night brought out the South-West’s best dressed with some stunning ball gowns and sharp suits. With Geoff McDonald as master of ceremonies and entertainment provided by the Toowoomba Anglican School, the grand illusionist Cosentino and Fenny and the Mets with Jimmy Graham, it made for an extremely fun night full of singing, dancing and laughter. Shout out to Luminosa located in the Chronicle Arcade for our hair and make-up!
This year our Creative Director, Ewen Ryley designed a stunning platinum and 18ct yellow gold “secret compartment” dress ring featuring a 1.79ct Australian green-yellow parti sapphire and over 0.5ct of diamonds. With the theme of this year’s event being “Magic and Miracles”, he designed a hidden hinge and catch system which allows the entire main setting to open to reveal the “secret compartment” which houses a heart shaped token representing the Save A Life program by LifeFlight. The ring was assembled by our jeweller, Janessa Lawson with the total time from design to completion taking 32 hours.
It is events such as these that would not happen without the support and sponsorship of many local businesses including event sponsors IADC, IOR Petroleum, Toowoomba Haematology, Barham Chiropractic, Greenridge Group, G&K Lawson Constructions, Nolan’s Interstate Transport, Brown Brothers and Carlton & United Breweries. In addition to Toowoomba Orthodontists, The Finch, Smeg Australia , Harvey Norman, Alcyone Hotel, Black Truck and AG, Spicers Hidden Vale and Kubota Tractors & Equipment who provided live auction prizes not to mention the sponsors who contributed prizes for the silent auction.
Together on the night we raised a whopping $422,732.
You can watch a video of the night credit of LifeFlight here: https://fb.watch/5KR2L3KF-Y/
Ryley Jewellery Creations has now raised over $70,000 for the foundation since 2017 and we are so proud to continue our support for this essential service within our community. We’re excited for next year’s event already!
All photos credit of Jason Hay Photography who did a fantastic job getting around to some 600 guests and capturing some exceptional moments!