Poppy Ball 2024 - an evening at the Barracks

The 2024 Poppy Ball was hosted at the historic Victoria Barracks in Sydney, a stunning example of military architecture and a working Army Barracks.  On 23^rd November, the army uniforms and boots were switched for black tie and cocktail dresses. Everyone was there for one important cause – raising funds for veterans and their families.

Nearly 500 guests entered to the rhythmic beats of the Scots College Pipe and Drum Band, before enjoying  canapes and cocktails in the stunning garden space.

We were thrilled to be supported by an incredible group of individuals who all contributed to a fantastic evening.

Our MC, Mark McConville, is a true entertainer with an academic intellect that was truly enjoyable.

John Schumann’s performance of three iconic Australian songs was a delight to listen to, and the crowd was captivated by the background story and performance of Vietnam veterans’ anthem “I Was Only 19”.  John was beautifully accompanied on piano by Ian Polites.

Watching the skill and choreographed coordination of the Australian Federation Guard Precision Drill Team was a treat for all guests.   Their impeccable timing and movements were a sight to behold.

The Live Auction and Silent Auction items were snapped up by eager bidders, with fun & healthy competition for some key items, such as the signed Slouch Hat by Daniel Keighran VC; Penfolds Grange and the tour of the Western Front which was donated by Mat McLachlan.

Everyone looked stunning on the night, and we were able to capture some fantastic photographs in the photo gallery (below).

Distinguished Guests

We were honoured by the attendance of our Distinguished Guests, including our newly appointed Board Chair, Sangeeta Venkatesan; The Hon David Harris MP – Minister for Veterans et al; Ms Robyn Preston MP – representing the NSW Opposition Leader, the Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP;  The Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP, Federal Minister for the Environment and Water; The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads; Former Governor General of Australia, General the Honourable David Hurley AC CVO DSC (Retd) & Mrs Linda Hurley; Brigadier Sean Parkes DSC DSM, Deputy G7 Army – representing the Chief of Army;  Colonel Warwick Young CSC OAM, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Forces Command – representing Brigadier Nathan Juchniewicz, Commander Forces Command; His Excellency, Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko – Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia; Mr. Nick Kaldas, Commissioner and Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide; Ms. Louise Sullivan, RSL NSW Board Chair; Mr. Mick Bainbridge, RSL NSW President; Mr. Ray James OAM, Past President RSL NSW;  Mrs. Pauline James OAM, State Coordinator RSL Auxiliaries; Mr. Ohad Katz, Managing Director Raytheon Australia.

Special Thanks

Thank you to those ongoing commitment and support of this event is greatly appreciated.

Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude also goes to the staff at the Victoria Barracks and the Australian Army, for allowing us to host the Poppy Ball at their stunning venue.  Their support on the night was outstanding, and we’d also like to extend our thanks to the team of the Army Museum who hosted two guided tours for guests.

The night would not have been possible without the commitment and support from our esteemed sponsors:

Raytheon Australia as Platinum Sponsor; Amazon Web Services and Archer Search as Gold Sponsors; Bidfood, Cornerstone Government Relations, Contract Care Recruitment, BGIS, Bohemia Interactive Simulations, Medilinks, AJN Healthcare Services, and Medclean as Silver Sponsors; and Ericom as our Beverage Sponsor.

Our services and events are not possible without the support of RSL NSW and its sub-Branches.  We’re grateful to be partnered with RSL NSW, an organisation who is focussed on the wellbeing of veterans and their families.

Many organisations and individuals donated incredible prizes for our raffle and auction items which were hot property on the night.  We are truly grateful for all contributions, and more importantly for the desire to be involved with such an important cause that the Poppy Ball stands for.  If you’d like to learn more about these generous businesses or the products and services they offer, check out the directory below.

The Positive Impact

Importantly, the total amount raised on the night will go directly towards supporting veterans and their families; through the provision of wellbeing services, financial support, vital housing support for veterans experiencing homelessness and more.

To find out more about how RSL LifeCare supports veterans and their families, please explore our website or subscribe to our regular newsletter.

Our Generous Donors

The following businesses and organisations supplied prizes for the Poppy Ball auction and raffle.  Incredible items from books, to coffee, to personal care, holidays and more.  We invite you to check out their services and show your support.

Thank you for your generous donations.

Check out our Facebook and Instagram page for more, or share your pictures with #PoppyBall2024.

Click the first photo to open the photo gallery.

Thank you to our sponsors, who helped make this event a reality, and more importantly, helping veterans and their families in need of support.  With their support, we were able to raise much needed funds for veterans and their families.

Master of Ceremonies	Featured Performance	Poppy Ball Raffle
Mark McConville, our MC, kept us informed and entertained throughout the night	John Schumann and Ian Polites’ performance was captivating	Army Rock Band Sydney kept everyone entertained and dancing with fantastic tunes.

Poppy Ball 2025

Stay tuned for more information about next year’s Poppy Ball – you won’t want to miss out!