The Australian Ireland Fund’s Sydney Mad Hatters Garden Party took place on Sunday, 24 October 2010, with many of the 520 guests getting into the theme and dressing up as Mad Hatters and all things Alice in Wonderland. Lady Mary Fairfax’s home, ‘Fairwater’, in Double Bay provided a spectacular setting for the event with the impressive marquee and breathtaking garden of ‘Fairwater’ transformed into images straight out of a Lewis Carroll fairytale book.
The wet weather did nothing to dampen the mood and cheery ambience of the day with the colourful setting of the venue and the colourful costumes of our guests keeping all who attended in great spirits.
On arrival, guests were welcomed by lovely looking ‘Alices’ and enjoyed canapés and pre luncheon cocktails in the magical mad hatters themed marquee complete with magic mushrooms, giant teacups and a smiling 2 metre high white rabbit in a waist coat and giant watch.
Well known and much loved Australian Radio Personality Jonathan “Jono” Coleman, who very kindly donated his time to be the Master Of Ceremonies for the Garden Party, welcomed guests and kicked off the event by introducing President and CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds, Kieran McLoughlin, who gave guests an entertaining and informative update on the Ireland Funds. Kieran McLoughlin made a presentation of the Ireland Funds Bird and Bell Award to Charles Curran AC particularly for his outstanding contribution to the Australian Ireland Fund as Chairman for the last 10 years. The Bird and Bell award has been presented in the past to
Chairman Charles Curran AC went on to officially thank Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE for her hospitality and all her continuing generosity, and welcomed Ambassador ÓFainín and Mrs. ÓFainín, Consul General Caitriona Ingoldsby, CEO of the Australian Indigenous Education Fund Andrew Penfold, Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Yvonne le Bas Fund Director and Treasurer and Deputy Chairman of the Lansdowne Club.
The Chairman made a presentation of our Australian Ireland Fund, Waterford Wedgwood Governor Peace Trophy to Ron & Helen Porter for their wonderful support and in recognition of them becoming Life Governors of the Australian Ireland Fund.
Presentation was also made to Director Jane Cosgrove for all her support of the Sydney Garden Party for many years.
CEO Kieran McLoughlin, on behalf of the Worldwide Ireland Funds, presented Chairman Charles Curran AC with the illustrious Bird and Bell Award, unique to the Ireland Funds and first created in 1978. This is award is in recognition for all the Chairman’s outstanding contributions he has made over the years to the Ireland Funds. The first person to be presented with the award in 1981 was Donald T Regan who was the 66th US Secretary of the Treasury. Other recipients of the award include President Mary McAleese, Sir Anthony O'Reilly, Seamus Heaney, Sir Peter Ustinov, Mo Mowlan, Dan Rooney and Liam Neeson.
Guests were entertained by the beautiful Irish singing sensation Celtic Woman, who while on their first Australian tour took the time to perform specially for our Garden Party guests. Their performance was a true celebration of Ireland with an unforgettable signature style. Guests were also treated to live music by “Spank” who had quite a few of our guests dancing in their seats and also on the spontaneous and impromptu dance floor.
The crowd enjoyed a delectable menu prepared by Tailored Events Catering which included gravadlax of salmon, Asian style pork belly, Jewfish fillets with colcannon potatoes and platters of delicious dessert canapés including fingers of decadent chocolate cake with ganache, assorted macaroons, decorated mini cup cakes and a selection of baby ice creams and sorbet cones. The delicious meal was served with Setanta Wines and followed by Irish Coffees, Tullamore Dew and Irish Mist courtesy of Suntory.
The Live Auction was a great success with Edward Riley of McGrath Estate Agents, our Auctioneer for the day, delivering a lively and entertaining Auction. We thank all our Live Auction Sponsors who very generously donated wonderful items for the day including Six Senses Hideaway Yao Noi Resort, Dominique’s Villas of London, Chairman Charles Curran & “Sydney” Yacht, Guillaume at Bennelong Restaurant, Posh Boutiques, Mrs. Maura Dempsey Englman, Varese Shoes, Neil Grigg – Sydney Milliner, John Azzi Hair & Beauty Salons, Star City, Hamilton Island Luxury Yacht Club Villas, Etihad Airways, Sheen Falls Lodge, Tourism Ireland, Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort, AVIS, Mercedes Benz and APN Outdoor. We thank everyone most sincerely for all those Live Auction items which made this years live auction a success.
We also thank all who supported the Silent Auction details of all can be found in our Programme printed especially for the day and available on this site.
Guinness/Diageo provided us with all our Guinness & Kilkenny for guests on the day and Smirnoff for our cocktails – we thank Sam Reid very much. Thanks also to Coca-Cola Amatil and John Seward for donating the soft drinks and juice for the day, Setanta Wines and Tony & Sheilagh Sullivan for the Setanta wines for the Garden Party which were very special, to TE Catering for setting up the café bar and providing the cappucinos on the day, and to Jenni Thomas of Suntory for the donation of Tullamore Dew for Irish Coffees, Carolans, Irish Mist and Magners. Last but not least to our Governor and Director Peter Ryan for the donation of Moet champagne for our corporate tables.
Throughout the day guests partook in the “Mad Hatters Money Madness” game with the opportunity to win a package valued at $9,500. The package included one week’s accommodation in a 4 bedroom luxurious villa in the fabulous Sheraton Mirage Resort in the town of Port Douglas, North Queensland, courtesy of Fund Life Governor and Director Ron Porter.
The 2010 Sydney Garden Party was successful both socially and financially with more than 500 guests attending and funds being raised on the day for projects of peace and reconciliation and integrated education in Northern Ireland and Indigenous education here in Australia.
This could not have been achieved without the generous support of all involved but in particular our major sponsors:
- APN News and Media, Brendan Hopkins
- APN Outdoor, Richard Herring
- Etihad Airwats, Lindsay White
- Mercedes Benz, Chris Knaap
- Australian Radio Network, Ciaran Davis
We also thank Liz Tailor of Tailored Events who has catered for us for the last eight years at Fairwater, the food was wonderful.
We truly are very grateful to all our table captains, supporters and sponsors, individuals and companies alike, without whom our work would not be possible! Thank you to all for making this year’s Australian Ireland Fund Sydney Garden Party such a great success.