Broken to Brilliant Directors extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who attended and supported Broken to Brilliant's 7th Annual Christmas in July High Tea. The event was a remarkable success, filled with warmth, connection, and purpose, all made possible by your generosity and presence.
Special Guests and Attendees
Our emcee, Loretta Ryan, did a fantastic job of guiding us through the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly. We were honoured to have several distinguished guests join us:
Our Patron, Former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson. We also received apologies from our Patrons, Bruce Sullivan, and Karen Jacobsen.
Deputy Principal Catherine Allen and the Student Leaders of St Rita’s College.
Councillor Tracy Davis, our dedicated representative for The McDowall Ward, who unfortunately couldn't attend due to illness, and, of course, all our wonderful guests and volunteers who made the day truly special.
A Beautiful Setting:
Our volunteers outdid themselves with the stunning table arrangements, featuring healing posies of rosemary and calming lavender, along with a festive touch of Christmas in July—a candy cane treat. A beautiful snow globe, generously donated, adorned the centre of each table, adding to the charm of the event.
A huge thank you to St Rita's College for hosting our high tea in the Ballygriffin Room, which has a stunning outlook and provided the perfect backdrop for our high tea.
A Special Performance by Nicky Steel
We were delighted to feature Nicky Steel, a gifted vocalist with expertise in both classical and jazz music, at our high tea. Nicky’s exceptional musical talent, combined with her unique background in law enforcement, added a remarkable and inspiring dimension to our high tea. Her soulful voice resonated with everyone, perfectly embodying our mission of resilience and empowerment.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Donors:
This event would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors and donors. We are immensely grateful to:
St Rita’s College for providing this beautiful venue.
Bean Alliance Group our long-term coffee and tea sponsor, with special thanks to Susan Castle for her unwavering support since 2019.
Wild Cherry Events for the delightful catering.
Coles, Woolworths, Costco, and Dan Murphy’s for their generous contributions.
Brisbane Hatters for the donation of an Akubra hat.
Our tireless volunteers, including Jo, Selina, Lindsay, Lin, Julianne, Fiona, Barbara, Stephanie, Zara, Kylie, Alex, Andrea, Kate, Karen, Kristine, Jamie, and Margaret, who all worked behind the scenes to make this event a success.
Photographer Stephanie Batten and Audio-Visual Support by Alex Nunn.
Margaret for organising, wrapping and decorating the raffle prizes.
Taking a Stand Against Domestic Violence
This year's event took place on a significant day, coinciding with the No More: National Rally Against Violence, a nationwide movement calling for more action against domestic violence. As we gathered to enjoy the high tea, we also took a stand—because enough is enough. Women deserve safety, and our children deserve a future free from fear.
Guest Speakers
At our Christmas in July High Tea, we were fortunate to be joined by an inspiring lineup of guest speakers, each with a compelling story to share.
Kate, a courageous domestic abuse survivor and Founding Director of Broken to Brilliant shared the personal journey that led her to establish the charity.
Andrea, a former professional ballet dancer, fitness instructor, and business trainer, spoke about her transition into charity work and her vital role in managing the Geebung and Brisbane City Op Shops.
Former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, who served the Queensland Police Service with distinction for 44 years, also joined us. Bob’s commitment to community safety and justice earned him the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), and we are honoured to have him as our Patron.
Catherine Allen, the Deputy Principal of St Rita’s College, shared her insights from over 25 years of experience in Girls' Education, focusing on empowering young women to reach their full potential both academically and personally.
Tracey and Lee, experts in Equine Therapy, introduced us to the RESTORE program. Tracey, with over 20 years of experience in Counselling and Gestalt Therapy, integrates trauma-informed approaches and her lived experiences into her therapeutic practice. Lee, with her strong background in social work, family violence, and child protection, discussed her use of strength-based, solution-focused methods, including nature-based therapies.
We also heard from Fiona, a dedicated community consultant, art therapist, and children’s author, who discussed her work with Jamie who developed the Rise 2 Rebuild program, which focuses on trauma-informed parenting skills.
Karen, a Director at Broken to Brilliant and the Founder of the Financial Superwomen Program provided an overview of the program, which is designed to help women achieve financial independence and stability. We were proud to recognise the Financial Superwomen volunteers in the room, whose efforts are crucial to the program’s success.
Reflecting on Our Journey and Looking Ahead:
Our high tea tradition began humbly in 2017, when a dedicated volunteer, Elaine, hosted the first event in her lounge room with just 25 attendees. Over the years, the event has grown, moving across various locations in Brisbane. This year, we were delighted to return to the beautiful St Rita’s College, where the event has grown into a meaningful and impactful celebration.
This high tea not only unites us in support of a vital cause but also raises crucial funds for our programs, which empower domestic violence survivors to rebuild their lives. Thanks to the generosity of our guests, who participated in the raffles and attended the event, we raised over $5,000 and with these funds we will be able to hold the Rebuild Empowerment Safely Through Outdoor Relational Equine - RESTORE Equine Therapy program in 2025, providing much-needed support and healing. Your contributions truly make a difference, transforming lives and helping survivors to move forward with hope and strength.
Until Next Year
As we reflect on this year’s Christmas in July High Tea, we extend our heartfelt thanks to every guest, volunteer, and supporter for your participation, generosity, and continued support. We hope you enjoyed the gingerbread cookies and posies of flowers; these are small tokens of our appreciation. We also thank those who took home our Recycle and Give - Broken to Brilliant Container Exchange Scheme ID: C10029698, allowing you to continue supporting our Give a Book program through recycling.
We look forward to welcoming you again next year!
Enjoy our 2024 Christmas in July photo gallery below
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