Previous Fundraising Events

SCIC’s Blue Soiree

Blue, in all its many shades, was the feature of SCIC’s major fundraising event for 2008, the Blue Soiree.

After many memorable fundraising functions in the historic grounds of Old Gladesville Hospital, this year’s event moved offsite to Le Montage Events Centre at Leichhardt. As always though, the emphasis was on fun, something that keeps people coming back each year and the Blue Soiree was no exception.

Over 300 people enjoying the wonderful atmosphere with blue outfits and accessories in abundance and even the odd Blue’s Bros to keep the tone of the night jumping.
The band Blue Inc played a great range of music - they have a particular affinity to the SCIC cause as two of the members have children with cochlear implants - and with a visit from Dame Edna Average and Ritmo Latino, there was plenty to look at and party with.

But, no fundraising event is complete without words from those who have been assisted by the work of the organisation. Who better to pay tribute to the exceptional services SCIC provide for those who are deaf than David and Rachel, the parents of Ava Lovell who joined the program soon after birth. Both spoke of the support and encouragement that SCIC had provided for them as they took the journey through the programme. From candidacy evaluation meetings, surgery, switch-on and the many habilitation sessions - a journey that is continuing.

Ava’s family are from the ACT and while they have travelled to Gladesville for the intensive period before and after surgery, they will now be able to access services at SCIC’s new Canberra centre that has been established through the generosity of Lady (Mary) Fairfax.

Also joining us on the night were Hugh McCourt and Anne Dernow, both cochlear implant recipients who met through the SCIC program and will marry later in the year. MC, Adam Spencer spoke to them about how receiving a cochlear implant had changed their lives and had in fact brought them together, showing everyone that being deaf and reliant on a cochlear implant for communication is no barrier to finding your life partner.

The success of the Blue Soiree is measured in financial terms but just as importantly events such as these give SCIC the chance to raise awareness of our mission to provide for the hearing impaired through the purchase of cochlear implant devices and the provision of ongoing, life-long services for all recipients so that they gain the full potential from their cochlear implant.