Docklands comes together to fight cancer

Yarra Point and Berth’s Biggest Morning Teas were two events to remember on May 23, with packed turnouts at both gatherings helping raise considerable funds for people impacted by cancer.

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a nationwide community event that raises vital funds for research, support services, and prevention programs in the fight against cancer – a disease that one in two Australians will be diagnosed with before the age of 85.

With $25,000 raised last year, and the hope of reaching $30,000 this year, the team from Berth and Cargo, which has been staging the event at NewQuay for many years, went even better by raising an impressive $34,000.

The event saw a full house pack out Berth’s upstairs function space overlooking Victoria Harbour, with inspiring speeches by cancer nurse Mary McGowan and former Berth events manager and cancer survivor Vanessa Muggianu.

Thanks to Lucas Real Estate’s Baden Lucas and Mark Sutherland, who put in another lively display as auctioneer helping to extract the most out of attendees on the day, some of whom went home with some magnificent prizes donated by local busineses.

The Yarra’s Edge morning tea, which was organised by a team led by Docklander Petra Harmer-Shrowder, ended up “absolutely demolishing” their goal of $3000, ultimately raising more than $5500 thanks to “the generous support of local residents and businesses.”

“We achieved a lot more this year because we thought out of the box,” Ms Harmer-Shrowder told Docklands News. “Along with our usual raffle, with more than 26 prizes, we ran a Yarra’s Edge quiz, a silent auction and a live auction run by Geoff White from Barry Plant to win a two-night stay in the Yarra Valley.”

“It’s our eighth year running, and the event has gone from strength to strength. We have a whole team at Yarra Point who helped organise prizes and get people through the doors to donate.”

“We would like to thank our sponsors and all our wonderful friends from Yarra’s Edge and beyond. For those that supported us by turning up with delicious food items for our sharing table.” •