Sydney Garden Party
29th Oct 2006

The Australian Ireland Fund annual gathering in Sydney was held in beautiful weather this year, on the stunning grounds of Lady Mary Fairfax’s home in Double Bay “Fairwater”. The Garden Party, with a golfing theme, attracted a full house of over 530 guests who were treated to perhaps the best Sydney Garden Party yet.

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Guests were entertained by Irish Band “Shindig” while they enjoyed their “Caddy Shot” cocktails and canapés. A great number of guests joined in the fun as they tried their luck at our “hole in one” game.

President and CEO, Kingsley Aikins, on stage with a Golf Car and a backdrop of “The Australian Ireland Fund, Links Championship Leader Board”, began formalities and gave guests an update on recent talks in Scotland on Northern Ireland before he handed over to Chairman Charles Curran AC.

The Chairman officially welcomed guests including Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE, new Ambassador to Australia, Mairtin O'Fainin and his wife Anne and Minister Tony Kelly. The Chairman presented Australian Ireland Fund Governor Suite Peace Trophies to Mrs. Mary Lee, Mr. Frank Hargrave AO and the O'Brien Family in recognition of these Governors becoming Life Governors. Another special guest was Senator Helen Coonan who was warmly welcomed and surprised by the Chairman who had the Band and guests sing Happy Birthday to her!

Comedian Paul Martell entertained the crowd before Gerald Delany, our guest auctioneer of Kay and Burton, Melbourne, conducted our live auction. Some wonderful items were auctioned, not the least of which were the Two Business Class tickets to Europe flying Qantas and Aer Lingus to Ireland, complete with seven days accommodation in Ireland in some wonderful Irish castles courtesy of Driveaway Holidays and a weeks car hire courtesy of Avis.

APN News & Media and Mercedes Benz were again major sponsors of ours providing a B-Class Compact Sports Tourer for us to auction. The successful bidder was Mrs. Patricia Brennan. A week at Chateau de Beauregard in France was purchased by David Coe and we thank Dominques’s Villas for their generous support. The week at Hamilton Island was donated by Mr. Bob Oatley, Hamilton Island and Jetstar will fly our guests to Hamilton.

Mr. Mike Lattin and Globecast donated a day at Australia v England Fifth Test Cricket Match and this was received very well by guests. Carr Golf Corporate Travel donated a week traveling around Ireland to play on Ireland’s top hidden gem golf courses. Philip Wright was the successful bidder for this item. Waterford Crystal donated beautiful crystal from their ‘Siren’ collection.

On the day we had two impromptu items donated to us. Nick Farr–Jones a former Wallaby captain donated tickets to the Rugby World Cup next year in France, Guillaume Brahimi of ‘Guillaume at Bennelong’, enthusiastically purchased this package.

Paul O’Brien donated two tickets to the U2 Concert the following weekend and they were purchased by Will Sanderson and Riccardo Bernabei. A very big thank you to the O’Brien family and PJ O’Briens.

We thank everyone most sincerely for all those live auction items which made this years live auction, one of our best ever.

Throughout the day guests partook in our Links Lotto game, the prize for which was a weeks accommodation in a 4 bedroom luxurious Villa in the fabulous Sheraton Mirage Resort in Port Douglas, courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Ron Porter and cash of $5,000. The winner Nicholas McDonagh and his wife Elke were overjoyed as they said ”they had never won anything prior to today”.

The day was successful socially and financially with over $200,000 being raised on the day for projects of peace and reconciliation and integrated education in Northern Ireland. This could not have been achieved without the generous support of a lot of people but in particular our major sponsors:
APN News and Media, Brendan Hopkins & Richard Herring
Qantas, Peter Collins
Mercedes Benz, John Vasilj.

We truly are very grateful to our supporters and sponsors, individuals and companies alike, without whom our work would not be possible!

Photo Index

1. Guests and View of Sydney harbour
2. Sir Ron Brierley, Liz Burch
3. Presentation of Governor Peace Trophy to Mary Lee
4. Mrs. Anne O’Fainin, Charles Curran AC, Minister Helen Coonan
5. Lady Mary Fairfax AC OBE, Simon Fieldhouse
6. Presentation of Governor Peace Trophy to Frank Hargrave AO
7. Minister Tony Kelly, Ross McMahon and Patricia Brennan
8. Consul General Pat Scullion, Paul, Damien, Josephine and Marie O’Brien
9. Briege and Karen Tuite and guests
10. Tourism Ireland
11. Anne O’Fainin, Teresa Keating, Ambassador O’Fainin
12. David Liddy, Ross McMahon, Peter Brennan, Christine Liddy AO
13. Paula and Nathan Gyaneshawar, John and Tanija Vasilj
14. Pierce Cody, Kevin Luscombe AM, guest, Cameron O’Reilly
15. Westpac guests
16. Village Roadshow guests
17. Guillaume Brahimi Highest Bidder for the Rugby World Cup Tickets
18. Orla Saul & Sabina Carr
19. Damien O’Brien and Josephine O’Brien
20. Jim Tate and guests
21. Qantas representitives
22. Richard Herring and Guests
23. Peter, Patricia Brennan and John Vasilj with Mercedes car
24. Tori, Brendan and Bee Hopkins
25. Elanor and Andrew O'Keefe
26. Richard Garside and Sophie Curran
27. Jane and Peter Cosgrove
28. Golf car and Leader Board
29. Eddie Maguire and Mrs. Magauire
30. The Golf Widows!