Westmead Medical Research Foundation

Past Events

A Night with the Stars 2008

The opening fire twirling performance literally set the scene for the event as the night was on fire with a deluge of entertainment with performances from The Whitlams, Shannon Noll, The Hon Tony Abbott, The Hon Bronwyn Bishop and the cast of Shout. Double Gold Logie Winner Kate Ritchie and Grant Denyer hosted the event and other celebrities including: Dicko, Farmer Dave Graham, Virginia Gay, Shannon Ponton, Kostya Tszyu, Jason Hodges, Johnny Raper and Joy Smithers worked the floor to encourage the audience to dig deep and support medical research.

An outstanding $880,000 was raised on the night, with the live auction generating vigorous bidding between the tables.

Prostate cancer was highlighted as the evenings cause this year. The disease kills approx 3,000 Australian men each year, and is diagnosed in over 18,000. The audience heard from Henry Wegwitz who described his ordeal with prostate cancer and the excellent clinical care he received from Westmead Hospital. His message was clear, the only way to cure this disease was through research.

This is the 11th anniversary of the event, which has raised over $5.8 million for Westmead Medical Research Foundation and continues to go from strength to strength. This is due to the huge commitment of Yum! Restaurants International to the event and its staff including Lorna Raine as the valued Committee Chair, Dianne Scrivener and all the Yum! Volunteers that assist on the night.

We would also like to thank all the major sponsors on the night including: Watercooler, Yum! Restaurants International, KFC, Pizza Hut, Maxco, Brass Tacks, Kids West, Wenty Leagues, Channel 9, Channel 10, Singleton Ogilvy Mather, ClubsNSW, Qantas, Volkswagen, Carat Australia, Arab Bank Australia, Total Concept Media, Sydney Kitchens, Philon, Paul & Valerie Ainsworth Charity Fund, Tiffany & Co, JPS Development and Construction, Harvey Norman Security, Medtronic, Timberland, Babor, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia, Blacktown Workers, Cadbury Schweppes, Pepsi, Dyldam, Henry Kendall Group, Austral Bricks, Streets, St George, Offset Alpine Printing, Thiess, Pearsons, LTM, Ramsay Health Care, Designer Chair Covers Instyle, Hawk Australia.

Australia 2020 Summit

Professor Cunningham was among 100 medical experts who participated in discussions on a long-term national health strategy.

Opening of the Patrick and Jane Wilde Research Laboratory

It was the Minister’s first visit to a research facility since her appointment to the federal cabinet last November. Ms Roxon visited several of the WMI laboratories before officially opening the ‘Patrick and Jane Wilde Research Laboratory’.

Pedal Power

A group of 40 cyclists, lead by The Hon Tony Abbott, pushed their bodies to the limit riding over 1,000kms in 9 days from Melbourne to Sydney.

$275,000 award to brilliant young students

Julie Owens Federal member for Parramatta distributed over $275,000 to 41 deserving young medical research students at Westmead Medical Research Foundation awards nights.