Tickets are now on sale for the annual Redland City Mayoral Prayer Breakfast on Friday, 29 August.
Mayor Karen Williams urged the community to book early for the popular event, at Wellington Point’s Redlands Sporting Club from 6.45am, as tickets were limited and usually sold out early.
The breakfast was initiated in the 1950s by then United States president Dwight D Eisenhower, with the movement established in the Redlands in 2003.
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“It has been held here annually ever since as an important fundraiser for school chaplaincies in the Redlands,” Cr Williams said.
“The keynote speaker is decorated former NSW ambulance officer and police chief inspector Gary Raymond, who headed the elite NSW Police Rescue Squad.
“Gary has been a life-saver in the true sense of the word and has a fascinating story to tell of his time conducting searches on land, in the air and at sea while a crew member on the police helicopter.
“During his time with the NSW Police Rescue Squad, he performed more than 1500 rescues, including 1000 motor vehicle accident rescues, 200 vertical rescues and 200 suicide crisis retrievals.
“He was also a terrorism risk assessor, homicide detective and, during a career spanning four decades, responded to many disasters, including the Granville train disaster, Thredbo landslide disaster, Newcastle earthquake, Luna Park ghost train fire, Hilton Hotel bombing, Cyclone Larry in North Queensland and Christchurch earthquake.
“Gary is currently a uniformed member of the Salvation Army and a chaplain to the Police Post Trauma Support Group NSW, as well as a regular speaker at community and church workshops.
“We are indeed fortunate to have him as a guest speaker.’’
Cr Williams said she expected a cross-section of key business, government, community, education, church and emergency service identities to attend the Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.
“This is a great opportunity for us to make a difference in the lives of the youth of Redland City by lending our support to our school chaplaincy programs,’’ she said.
“I have seen firsthand the positive difference this program makes to our students, schools and our community.
“This support really can change lives, supporting families and helping students to fulfill their potential.”
Tickets are available for $50 each or $450 for a table of 10. RSVP deadline is 15 August or until sold out. They are available online at www.rpac.com.au , by calling 3829 8131 or you can pick them up in person from the RPAC box office, 2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland.
