Two consecutive years of the gala fundraiser Under the Stars has paid off for Peregian Family & Friends Inc (PFAF). Initially established with the goal of re-establishing a local surf club in, and for Peregian; the 2022 committee were in a position to present accumulated funds to the newly incorporated Peregian Beach Surf Life Saving Club (PBSLSC) at our general meeting in December 2022. This had felt like a long time coming for members and the committee. We were all very proud of our part in helping the PBSLSC become ‘re-born’.
John Roderick (President PBSLSC Supporters Club) accepted the $80, 000 cheque on behalf of the PBSLSC Supporters Club. He expressed his gratitude on behalf of the PBSLSC and added that he believes our founder and current President, Leigh McCready, is perhaps the only person he knows who would have the passion and energy to achieve such a remarkable result from a community the size of Peregian. John added a reassurance that the funds would be deposited into an account designated for ‘future building’, to ensure that the money would be used for the purpose for which it was raised.
Peregian Family & Friends was formed in 2017, and merged with the Peregian Springs Residents Association in 2018 with the aim of embracing all the communities of Peregian, regardless of Local and State Government boundaries. PFAF has raised in excess of $130,000 to put back into our local communities since then, including a sizeable donation to the Verrierdale Rural Fire Brigade for a building to house their fire truck. Annual Gala Dinners, either in the old Surf Club building or Under the Stars in Peregian Park, have been held on the anniversary of the 2019 Peregian Fires.