Guests at the annual Bean Counters Ball were transported back to the 80s last month with their arcade themed event, where generous donations helped increase the total raised for their charity partners to $330,000 since its launch in 2011.
The event, a joint initiative between local members of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ)and CPA Australia, raised over $30,000for charity partners Samaritans and Hunter TAFE Foundation to help underprivileged youth access housing and education.
The event was made possible with the generous support of their sponsors, in particular the Platinum Sponsors, Gillard Family Lawyers, and The University of Newcastle.
Every year guests are treated to a new theme, with 2024 based around ‘arcade’.
The event featured some 80s inspired arcade games, and even a basketball shootout on stage between CAANZand CPA Australia.
Chair of the Bean Counters Ball and Chair of the Newcastle and Hunter chapter of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, Daniel Drayton was delighted by the response from guests for the theme of the event, and their efforts in fundraising for the charity partners.
“Every year the Bean Counters Ball committee aims to bring something new to our guests, and we were hoping the arcade theme would surprise and delight everybody who attended,” Daniel said.
“We want all of guests to have fun on the night, as well as assist in fundraising and hope hearing from those supported by Samaritans and the Hunter TAFE Foundation encouraged everybody to donate.”
Guests heard from students living in the Samaritans Youth Accommodation who explained how the accommodation has changed their lives, helping them on their path to finding a career and a stable home.
Tate, a student supported by the youth accommodation said they would not have flourished and become the person they are without the support of Samaritans.
“If I didn’t have this opportunity, if I didn’t reach out, I don’t think I would be here and I don’t think I would be alive,” Tate said.
Another student, Kayla said she is currently in her first year of university and Samaritans was a huge influence on her career choice after being supported herself in the youth accommodation.
“Because I’m doing social work at university, I’m now working as a youth worker at one of the crisis accommodations,” Kayla said.
“I want to help the people who helped me.”
In addition to the video from Samaritans, Jacob Wiseman, a former recipient of the Bean Counters Ball achievement award in conjunction with Hunter TAFE Foundation, detailed his experience studying while looking after a young family.
“Working full time, juggling three kids under 6, combined with the fact that I’d never done any bookkeeping before in my life, I really felt like I had bitten off more than I could chew,” Jacob said.
“Receiving the Bean Counters Achievement Award gave me a much-needed boost and reaffirmed a belief in myself that I could make accounting and bookkeeping a career choice.
“Through the support of the award, I now have a solid foundation for getting off the ground and into this industry. Receiving this award has given me the confidence to start chasing this new career.”
To conclude the formalities of the event, the prestigious Young Achiever Award in partnership with Hunter Young Professionals (hyp), was awarded to Giorgia Wilson from Grace Family Law Solicitors and We Gotchu Girl (WGG).
Giorgia is a Paralegal at Grace Family Law Solicitors and the founder of WGG, a local charity dedicated to supporting victims of sexual and domestic violence.
Giorgia is passionate about helping others and uses her knowledge and work to create safe spaces for those supported by WGG.
She dedicated her award on the night to the 38 women in Australia who had been killed due to domestic violence since the beginning of year.
Daniel said the event wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work of the committee and the generosity of the sponsors and guests on the night.
“We were lucky enough to have a dozen sponsors across our Platinum, Gold and Silver levels for the 2024 ball whose generosity assisted with raising over $30,000 for our charity partners,” Daniel said.
“Additionally, I want to thank the tireless effort of the committee for their fundraising efforts on the night and leading up to the event.
“And of course, all of the guests for attending, or donating in any way they could. We’re looking forward to holding the Bean Counters Ball again in 2025 and encourage guests and sponsors to support us again in the future.”
IMAGE | Guests tried their luck some of the 80s arcade-themed games at the event.