By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
In recent months, three of Sydney’s most established pub families held charity lunches, raising large sums for various not-for-profits.
Yesterday, the Bayfields held their annual charity lunch at Dee Why Hotel, which raised a record $202,001. The family has been hosting the annual event for 17 years, and through their own generosity and those of suppliers have raised over $2.5 million in total for the Children’ Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA). The CCIA aids research in treatments and cures for children’s cancers.
“The Bayfield family has been joined at the hip with us for 17 years now. We don’t have any other family doing this for us, and I would really have to think hard about another corporate partner who has been with us as long,” said Anne Johnston, head of fundraising and marketing for CCIA.
Both the Waughs and Shorts held rugby luncheons recently, with the lunch hosted by Martin Short at The Glenmore raising $60,000 for the Gidget Foundation, to support expectant and new parents suffering with perinatal anxiety and depression. Simone Short has been on the board of directors for the foundation for over a decade.
Public House Management Group, led by Mitchell Waugh, hosted its second annual charity lunch earlier this year at Bistro Moncur. The event raised $214,000 for the Palliative Care Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“Public House is committed to supporting the communities in which our hotels operate and I’m delighted that our annual Rugby Lunch has once again raised much needed funds for The Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick – Palliative Care Unit,” stated Waugh.
Wayne Bayfield was thankful to the suppliers who gave generously at yesterday’s event, several of whom have done so for many years.
“The support has been there all the way through. After these lunches I always thank the CEOs and MDs who have opened their wallets, and the response is always ‘It’s a fantastic cause, why wouldn’t we support it?’”
