PITH helmets, leopard print and wild animals were de rigueur at the annual Nu Nu Restaurant Melbourne Cup event.
The event raised more than $42,000 for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, which has now received more than $250,000 in the 18 years it has been held.
Famous for its horse race on the beach, the Nu Nu Restaurant Melbourne Cup theme this year was Rumble in the Jungle and tickets sold out in six minutes when launched online.
After King was scratched, the three-horse race on the beach was won by Mr Nibbles, with former Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation deputy chairman Russell Beer being the successful bidder of that horse in the auction.
Foundation Acting CEO Joe Cristaldi said it was a thrilling fundraising event. “This was really a lot of fun. As my first time, it was great to get into this event that the whole town talks about,” Mr Cristaldi said.
“Thanks to the Nu Nu Restaurant team who work so hard to bring this to fruition, all the many sponsors, and our volunteers and staff who worked so hard on the day to make it happen. It was incredibly rewarding to see this year’s event raise the most it has EVER and this is a tribute to everyone who was involved,” he said.
“We love the relationship we have built with Nu Nu Restaurant over the past 18 years and we look forward to continue working with the incredible team.”
Thanks to auctioneer Rod Brennan and his wife Rhonda, Mod Films, Skytrans, Platinum Model Management Australia, Riversleigh Horse Agistment, Two Tribes Styling, DJ Bart from Electric Dreams, Silver Cup Trophies, Final Touch Productions, Tea Lily Boutique, Kevin Murphy, Allamanda Palm Cove, Wolf Lane Distillery, Westco BMW, and the many hundreds of prize sponsors.
