In April, the Australian eventing community was shaken by news of a tragic road accident. Two girls, Courtney Fraser and Emma Booth were injured in a serious car crash on their way home from the Albury Horse Trials. A driver in a separate car was killed.
As soon as the news spread that a horse float had been involved in an accident, everyone hoped that it wasn’t someone they knew and especially, someone they had just been competing with at Albury but sure enough, their worst fears were confirmed. The terrible footage of the crash was shown on the news, it was confirmed that Courtney’s two horses had died and within a few days the story was appearing in overseas equestrian magazines and reports.
Cathy Oates was one of the organisers who made it all happen
Soon after, some of the girls’ friends mobilised themselves, formed a committee and decided to hold a Fundraising Ball to help defray the substantial costs the girls faced in re-building their lives. Cathy Oates, Will and Emily Enzinger and Sarah Bertram worked tirelessly to put together a Fundraising Ball that would bring the eventing community together to help the girls. That Ball took place at the Palladium at Crown in Melbourne on Friday night.
It’s hard to describe an evening which started from such tragic circumstances. Most Balls are glamorous, fun, entertaining, eagerly anticipated and revolve around catching up with friends, eating well, drinking a bit too much and generally having a great time. This Ball was no exception but it is probably the first one I’ve been to where people were openly crying after the first ten minutes of being seated.
Heath Ryan is well known for his bombastic and entertaining speaking style but his tone was practical and subdued as he outlined why we were all at the Ball. Close to him on the huge stage of the Crown Palladium Ballroom were two girls; Courtney, standing and next to her Emma, who is now paraplegic, in her wheelchair.
MC Heath Ryan introduces Courtney and Emma
Both girls looked beautiful and their composure was remarkable. Their speeches cannot be condensed into a few words as this simply wouldn’t do them justice so we will be showing the video of their complete speeches here. When each girl finished speaking there was a standing ovation reflecting the respect, admiration and love for these two girls who are just starting to recover from an ordeal which will no doubt affect them both for all of their lives.
After such an emotional start to the evening (‘The girls want to get it out of the way’ said Heath when introducing them) it may seem incongruous to move onto a great evening of eating, drinking, and dancing. But we all did, including both girls (yes, Emma was very much hogging the dance floor in her wheelchair later in the evening, surrounded by family and friends dancing around her). After all, you can’t keep a good eventer down for long.
The silent auction items on display
Aside from the general festivities the fundraising activities were in full swing most of the evening. A silent auction was held throughout the evening where bids were placed on a huge array of items laid out on a table at the back of room, raffle tickets on each table were snapped up for prizes given out throughout the evening and Heath and auctioneer Adam Mountjoy cajoled the 600 guests into buying all of the items in the live auction.
Auctioneer Adam Mountjoy and Heath Ryan spruik the SubZero rug held by Jenelle Christopher and Cathy Oates
The second item of the auction was one that set the tone for the evening. A Black Caviar framed print, signed by Luke Nolan and donated by Alan Walker, got over the $1,000 mark and was being bid for by two parties. At $1,200 one bidder on Table 28 decided to short cut the process and jumped straight up to $2,000! In fact they were bidding on behalf of eventing rider Kylie Pedder and her husband Mark (“I told them to go up to $2,000” said Kylie afterwards, who was thrilled to have the print “I think they just decided not to waste any time!)
Eventer Kylie Pedder and her rally driver husband, Mark
The bidding was hectic on all 26 items of varying price range and interest - a satin SubZero racehorse winner’s rug went for $650, as did Australian show jumper Edwina Alexander’s signed team shirt and hat while there was fierce bidding on a helicopter flight (added attraction that you were going to be allowed to fly it – obviously appealing to the eventer’s natural thrill seeking nature) and a day for 20 people at the Healesville Races (no doubt that will be a quiet day).
Kurt Enzinger gets the guests' attention
In order to get the attention for the main auction item of the evening, Melbourne equine vet and brother of one of committee member Will, Kurt Enzinger put on a cracking performance – literally. The whip cracking display brought everyone’s attention back to the Equiluxe float valued at $17,000 which was standing regally in the corner of a room (yes, we were several floors up but the staff at Crown have a very ‘can do’ attitude) which went once again to Kylie and Mark Pedder who were fantastic supporters of the evening.
The evening of course concluded with the dance floor being jam packed and everyone joining in at the top of their voices on one of the final numbers, Mustang Sally. “All you wanna do is ride around Sally. Ride, Sally, ride”
It was a terrible tragedy which brought all of these people together but a tragedy which shows how resilient people can be under the worst circumstances and how a community will rally round. At the current count, an amazing $78,000 has been raised
The funds will go towards the girls getting their lives back on track. Emma finished her speech by saying that she will now aim to compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and Courtney summed it up when she said “You can’t help but ask “Why me”. But if you continue to live in that moment you never move forward”
The Ball at Crown on Friday night was the start of moving forward for these two girls and it was a privilege to be there
More photos and video from the evening to come
