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OCRF Silver Style Cocktail Party 2014

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and GT co-hosted a glamorous event at Stokehouse City...
Marcel Aucar

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and Gourmet Traveller co-hosted a glamorous event at Stokehouse City to raise vital funds and give thanks to loyal sponsors, writes Michael Harden.

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There was plenty of love in the room when Gourmet Traveller co-presented the 2014 Silver Style Cocktail Party with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation at Melbourne’s Stokehouse City recently.

Silver Style is part fundraiser, part thank-you to the donors and sponsors who help raise funds for the OCRF. Hosted with warmth and humour by Catriona Rowntree, the party provided a chance for everybody involved with the foundation – from donors to research scientists – to celebrate advances in ovarian cancer treatment made possible by the OCRF’s work.

CEO and co-founder of the OCRF, Liz Heliotis, says that the night was all about “life and aspiration, gratitude and the future”.

“What we do is raise vital research funds to support scientific endeavour and by doing that we fuel the dream for a better future for generations to come,” she says. “The partners/sponsors we have are an integral part of that journey and all are committed to our ultimate goal of an early detection test for this insidious disease.”

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The theatrical upstairs room at Stokehouse City provided the perfect backdrop for a smart crowd, which embraced the party’s theme – elegant, with a touch of silver. The crew from By Design Event Group styled the rooms – from ethereal centrepieces on the tables to crinoline-clad performers. Add a steady flow of Pikes wines and Trumer Pils beer, and a brilliant menu of party food (designed by Stokehouse chef Oliver Gould), including Coffin Bay oysters with verjuice gazpacho, and spanner crab and pea risotto, and you’d have been hard-pressed not to have a good time.

Foundation chairman and co-founder associate professor Thomas Jobling was on hand to accept a cheque for more than $1.2 million from premium partner Witchery. And more money was raised on the night, not just from the sale of limited-edition silver ribbon pins (by a troop of Witchery-attired hostesses whose make-up was done by co-sponsor L’Oréal Paris), but also through a live auction of prizes kindly donated by OCRF partners and friends of Gourmet Traveller, including luxury accommodation at Bali’s Villa Mawar, an escape package to the freshly renovated Langham, Sydney and a wellness weekend at the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat in Queensland.

It was a special kind of night, one where a good party and a good cause were perfectly in step.

THANKS TO

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  • Catriona Rowntree, MC

  • Antony Woodley, auctioneer

  • Basil, Marcus, Lisa and Jolee from By Design Event Group (for event styling) supported by Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance

  • Eddie Rinaldo from Rinaldo Entertainment (for audio visual and DJ)

  • Trumer Australia, Splitrock/Tiro and Pikes Wines (beverage partners)

  • Grossi family (for all their assistance in securing wine for the event)

  • Witchery (for providing hostesses and their clothes)

  • L’Oréal Paris (for providing hair and make-up for hostesses)

  • Michael Skoullos from On Time Concepts (for collation and packing of gift bags)

  • And all those who donated amazing prizes for our live auction: Bali’s Villa Mawar, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Microflite, Village Roadshow, Trumer Australia, L’Oréal Paris, Witchery, Ian Curley, Miele, Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Grossi Florentino, and The Langham, Sydney.

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