More than 350 Sunshine Coast wine imbibers attended the Travis Schultz Winemakers Master Class backed by NAB for SunnyKids on Friday 28 May at the Maroochy RSL Events Centre, raising a record amount of $170,000 for a local charity that supports our community’s most vulnerable.
This was the ninth year running for the sold-out special charity event, which has now raised well over half a million dollars for SunnyKids, totalling an impressive $610,000 since inception, with the backing of the local business community.
General Manager of SunnyKids, Kathleen Hope, says this annual fundraiser is critical for the charity.
“This event enables SunnyKids to continue to offer important services such as our early intervention program for families, critical to providing kids with an opportunity to reach their full potential,” Mr Hope said.
Event founder, Travis Schultz from Travis Schultz & Partners, said the event was based on providing an opportunity for local businesspeople to connect and learn about quality food and wines, while enjoying a good experience with a side hustle of fundraising.
“We were delighted to showcase some of Australia’s best winemakers at this year’s event from the Barossa, Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley – matching fine wine and food with plenty of opportunities for people to network, all in the name of a good cause,” Mr Schultz said.
Winemakers included crowd-favourite Jane Ferrari representing the Barossa’s Brockenchack, Michael Roelofs representing Polperro Wines in the Mornington Peninsula, Andrew Quin winemaker of Hentley Farm in the Barossa, and Sarah Crowe winemaker at Yarra Yering in the Yarra Valley. See winemaker bios at the end of the media release.
A live auction was also held at the event with local personalities and businesses sponsoring some major prizes. Auction items included:
- A morning with Jett Kenny for 10 people, sponsored by Mercedes Benz Sunshine Coast
- Masterpiece artwork by Roy Lichtenstein, sponsored by SunnyKids
- Market Bistro 6-course degustation dinner for 12 people, sponsored by Evans Built
- A night of racing at Big Kart Track for 30 people, sponsored by the Big Kart Track
- Mercedes Benz AMG Drive Day for two people at Mt Cotton, sponsored by Mercedes Benz Sunshine Coast
- Harry’s on Buderim Lunch for 6 people with Casey Stoner & Chris Vermeulen, sponsored by NAB
- 18ct white gold ‘Canturi-style’ diamond ring, sponsored by SunnyKids
- Broncos Corporate Game Day experience for 6 people, sponsored by the Broncos
- Riedel glassware collection, sponsored by Riedel, the glass company
- A golf masterclass for 6 people, sponsored by Mercedes Benz Sunshine Coast
- Unbuyable Barossa Backstage Pass by Jane Ferrari, sponsored by Travis Schultz & Partners
- SunnyKids Mayoral Ball 2021 table #1 for 10 people, Sponsored by SunnyKids
Mr Schultz said this year’s event was made possible due to the efforts of generous sponsors, event partners, SunnyKids and a hard-working team of volunteers and guests.
“We are so very grateful for the incredible support from the Sunshine Coast business community and all involved in making this important occasion possible,” Mr Schultz said.
“We see time and time again how generous this community is and we want to thank each and every guest who attended for their contribution.”
SunnyKids General Manager, Kathleen Hope, said SunnyKids’ vision is to have a Sunshine Coast community in which everyone feels safe, belongs and has the chance to reach their full potential.
“Events like this allow us to support our community where they need it most,” Ms Hope said.
“Last year alone, we delivered 16,500 hours of support for vulnerable families through our safe refuge, counselling services, our Mentoring Through Sport program and our Village Buddies program.”
“This fundraising event truly blows me away each year. We have such a close-knit business community and the generosity and enthusiasm shown is quite unique and inspirational.
For more information, go to www.sunnykids.org.au
WINEMAKER BIOS
Michael Roelofs – Polperro Wines
Polperro Wines in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula mixes organic and biodynamic principals in an unpretentious, modern and charming setting.
Representing Polperro at the event will be Michael Roelofs. After 18 years in the Noosa hospitality scene, Michael curated the wine list at iconic Noosa institution Ricky’s River Bar & Restaurant where he met Sam Coverdale, the owner and winemaker of Polperro.
After having a few chats over the course of 18 months Sam invited Michael down to Polperro to try the wine and become the Queensland Representative for Polperro and his sister label Even Keel wines.
Fast forward three years and the ride has been amazing. Michael loves all aspects of farming the grapes, picking them and the magic that happens in the winery to seeing someone take their first sip and be blown away with the complex set of flavours that Sam Coverdale is renowned for.
Sarah Crowe – Yarra Yering
Sarah Crowe is the Winemaker and General Manager of one of the oldest vineyards – Yarra Yering – in the Yarra Valley.
After studying and working in Horticulture, Sarah began her wine career with vineyard work in the Hunter Valley. Sarah completed international harvests in both Oregon; focusing on Pinot and Chardonnay, and the Rhone Valley; focusing on Shiraz and Viognier. After 12 years in the Hunter Valley, Sarah was looking for a new challenge and decided to head for cool climate viticulture.
Sarah made the move to the Yarra Valley joining the Yarra Yering team in September 2013 to focus on one single iconic vineyard site. The vineyard is central to wine quality and Sarah considers the Yarra Yering vineyard to be the best she has ever worked with. The release of her first wines, the 2014 vintage saw her named James Halliday’s Winemaker of the Year 2017.
Jane Ferrari – Brockenchack
Jane Ferrari is the wine ambassador for Brockenchack which is a single vineyard wine producer in the Barossa’s picturesque Eden Valley, specialising in Shiraz.
Jane became one of the first female students to be accepted into Urrbrae Agricultural High School. This led to her completing a winemaking degree at Roseworthy Agricultural College where she undertook her mandatory vintage experience with the legendary John Glaetzer at Wolf Blass Wines in 1983.
After graduating, Jane worked for Tollana Wines and United Distillers, until making the move back to the Barossa Valley in 1989.
Jane worked at Rockford Wines with Robert O’Callaghan and after three years apprenticed to Robert, Jane moved to the oldest family owned wine growing operation in Australia – Yalumba – for 25 years.
Since then, Jane has become known as a wine ‘storyteller’ and was awarded the title of ‘Australian Wine Communicator of the Year’ in 2012.
Andrew Quin – Hentley Farm
Since 2008, Andrew Quin has been the Head Winemaker of Hentley Farm, influencing the evolution of the vineyard with a focus on crafting modern wines from traditional Barossa varieties.
With his firm conviction that the best wines are made in the vineyard, it is no surprise that Andrew was drawn to Hentley Farm after returning home from vintages in France and the USA.
His original field of study was horticulture and for Andrew, winemaking provides the perfect opportunity to combine his scientific and technical knowledge with his artistic flair in the pursuit of ultimate quality.
Andrew’s approach to these wines is about thoughtful and minimal winemaking intervention – to craft wines of balance, power and elegance with the distinct Hentley Farm hallmarks of vibrancy, velvet silky tannins and intense flavour richness. His wines show varietal diversity and are attractive and approachable when young, with the depth and structure for extended cellaring.
EVENT SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
This event would not be possible without the generous support from our sponsors and event partners:
Platinum presenting partner
- NAB
Gold partners
- Evans Built
- Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast
- Suncoast Hotel Group
- Toomey Family Law
- Travis Schultz & Partners
- Wealthmed
Event partners
- 92.7 Mix FM
- Eason Creative Photography
- Fresh PR & Marketing
- Inkspot
- Maroochy RSL
- Reidel
- Whitebrook Events
