The Hunter community’s generosity again came to the fore at the 2017 HMRI Ball on June 17, with record breaking funds raised.

The Hunter community’s generosity again came to the fore at the 2017 HMRI Ball on June 17, with record breaking funds raised.

Behind the glitz and glamour, the night provides a vital injection of grant funding for medical researchers who are striving to improve health outcomes for the region and beyond, both today and into the future.

The HMRI Ball committee chose Newcastle Harbour’s ‘Destiny’ sculpture as the theme, celebrating the growth of both the city and its medical research institute.

Destiny has welcomed ships to the Port since being commissioned in 1999. Standing 9-metres tall on the Dyke Point site formerly occupied by the State Dockyard, it was created by local artist Julie Squires with inspiration from figureheads on the bows of sailing ships.

A bronze replica was successfully auctioned during the Ball for $9000.

HMRI Director, Professor Michael Nilsson, said he was humbled by the Ball’s outcome and exceptionally grateful to the organising committee led by Jan Bynon.

“It shows just how much the work of our researchers is valued, and I can assure you the feeling is mutual,” he said. “The more funding we raise for research, the more we can do to improve the health of the community.

“In the past five years our income has grown considerably thanks to the wonderful generosity of our donors and greater success in leveraging government funding. It takes a team effort to achieve this and there has been a spirit of cooperation that’s almost unique to our region.”

The Ball was held at Newcastle City Hall.