Weipa’s Met Gala, Wine by the Sea, is set to be another huge fundraiser for the local Kindergarten after tickets sold out in a matter of days. Photo: Supplied (Angus Walker).
Whether a wine enthusiast or someone simply wanting an excuse to frock up for the night, Weipa community members will invest in the future generation at this year’s sold-out Wine by the Sea (WBTS) Kindy fundraiser on 16 May.
Tickets were gone quicker than a bottle of sauvignon blanc in a drunk aunt’s hand when they went on sale last week, with the first release gone in mere minutes as the who’s who of Weipa clicked to secure their spots.
WBTS committee member Bethany King said as the Weipa Community Kindergarten’s major fundraiser, it was positive to see the community embrace the event year after year.
“We’re such a young community — everyone has young children — and all our kids go to Kindy,” she said.
“It’s such an important step for our young kids, and over the years, Wine by the Sea has helped improve and upgrade the building on so many levels.
“As a mum, I just think it’s so important for their education, and for learning to socialise with one another in a safe and comfortable environment.”
Thanks to various WBTS events, the local Kindergarten has seen upgrades such as an additional indoor area and shade cover on the playground, allowing children to learn and play safely in Weipa’s extreme heat.
Special guest performers from the Weipa Gymnastics Club will bring this year’s theme, Cirque du Cabaret, to life with their mind-blowing acrobatic skills.
Ms King said while it was a fun opportunity for the people of Weipa to dress up and let loose, the event, at its core, was about the kids, making it all the more meaningful to provide the town’s young gymnasts a stage to showcase their hard work and talent.
With a cabaret performance from Maehem Productions and DJ duo, the Buzerk Brothers, also scheduled to keep attendees dancing the night away, Ms King said the unique format of the annual fundraiser was what made it so popular with the community.
“There’s not many events in Weipa that you can dress up, and put those diamantes and that long, beautiful dress on,” she said.
“That Met Gala feel is something that Wine by the Sea has always offered people, and there’s not really another event like this, so I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so sought-after.”
