Everyone shone at the Glitz and Glamour Ball celebrating IDPWD

Published on 19 October 2023

Celebrating International Day of People With Disability (IDPWD), The 2023 Glitz and Glamour Ball held at the Slim Dusty Centre on Saturday 14 October was filled with smiles, fun and a sprinkling of magic.

With 220 guests in attendance this sold-out event which was created in partnership between Kempsey Shire Council and the Macleay Disability Inclusion Group (MDIG) celebrated people with disability, their strengths, talents, resilience, and the contributions they make to our lives and community.

Aisha Spokes, Community Projects Officer at Kempsey Shire Council and member of the Macleay Disability Inclusion Group said “There was nothing but smiles and laughter from start to finish, the glamorous evening was inclusive, fun and heartwarming.”

Guests enjoyed a range of wonderful entertainment including:

• Magician Jack Black amazed people with his extraordinary roving close-up magic and an interactive stage performance involving members of the audience, which was a huge hit!
• Ritchie Gudgeon delivered a lively musical performance which had everyone up and dancing for hours into the evening.
• Dance performances from NASCA Dance Group (Kempsey & Melville High School), Maureen Garvey All Abilities Dancers and Key Community Group All Abilities Dancers.
• An impromptu dance off competition with six attendees impressing everyone with their moves and winning prizes.

Due to the enormous success of the event and positive feedback from attendees, Ms Spokes revealed “The MDIG has already announced that next year's event will be on Saturday 12 October 2024 at the Slim Dusty Centre. So please, save the date!”

Thank you to everyone who attended and showed your support to make this event happen. A particularly huge thank you to all the local businesses who donated prizes for our raffle on the night and those who purchased tickets. Over $2,500 was raised, which will go towards providing free entertainment and activities at the Big Day Out event.

We could not make this happen without the support of our event partners:

• Event lead - Macleay Disability Inclusion Group
• Presenting Partner - Kempsey Shire Council
• Platinum Sponsor - Key Community Group
• Gold Sponsors - Community Gateway, Impakt Taxation & Accounting Services, Macleay Valley Support Services and Community Housing Ltd.
• Silver Sponsors - Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation and Coastline Credit Union Ltd
• Bronze Sponsors - Ability Options, Tumblegum Bakehouse and Cafe, Jacob Smith Concreting

The Council’s Community Development team is now focused on working with the MDIG to finalise planning for the Big Day Out event at Riverside Park on 1 December 2023. Keep any eye out for more details on this on the Council’s website over the coming weeks.

See below for the event image gallery.

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