Dîner en Rouge fundraiser was a rhapsody in pink

Redlands Coast stepped out in its finest on Saturday night as the community came together to shine a light on the dark corners of domestic and family violence.

Dîner en Rouge – Goes Pink, which raised awareness and funds to help prevent domestic and family violence, was held on Saturday 27 May at the Sheldon Event Centre.

Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said the gala event was a huge success, with the Dîner en Rouge events having raised approximately $475,000 since their inception.

“Saturday night was another heartening example of how the Redlands Coast community continues to rally together to help each other; in this case to raise awareness and affirm that this sort of violence will not be tolerated, ever,” Cr Williams said.

This year’s traditionally red and white Dîner en Rouge turned ‘pink’, in honour of Dîner en Rouge’s partnership with the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation.

Established by Sue and Lloyd Clarke, parents of Hannah Clarke and grandparents to Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey, who died in February 2020, as a result of domestic violence, the foundation’s theme colour is pink.

“I must say that we saw some beautiful interpretations of the pink theme colour in the fashions for the night,” Cr Williams said.

“Dîner en Rouge and the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation are partnering on a new domestic violence awareness and education program in Redlands Coast high schools and funds raised from Dîner en Rouge – Goes Pink will go towards this initiative.

“The ‘Redlands Coast says HALT’ program is a new domestic violence awareness and education program in local high schools.

“It will educate students about respectful relationships and foster positive behavioural change.

“We are proud of our partnership with the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation and the amazing work they are doing.”

Cr Williams said Zonta clubs, Soroptimist International, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Redland Foundation and local DFV service advocates all contributed to this year’s Dîner en Rouge.

“An event such as this takes an amazing amount of work to bring together and I want to say thank you to all those people behind the scenes who made it happen, and also to our sponsors who helped make the night a stunning success,” she said.