Soirée by the Sea a Sparkling Success
26 May 2023
More than 200 people attended the Institute’s revamped signature fundraising event Soirée by the Sea.
Held at its new home – Icebergs Dining Room and Bar – guests were treated to beautiful cocktails and canapes on a perfect autumn’s day overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
With your overwhelming generosity and support, we raised more than $100,000 for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
![Dr Tom Meredith speaking at the event Dr Tom Meredith speaking at the event](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=150&q=60&w=120 120w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=300&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=450&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=600&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=750&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=900&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1050&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1350&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1500&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1650&q=60&w=1320 1320w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1800&q=60&w=1440 1440w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1950&q=60&w=1560 1560w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2100&q=60&w=1680 1680w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2250&q=60&w=1800 1800w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2400&q=60&w=1920 1920w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/tom-meredith-soiree-by-the-sea-2023_WEB-640px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2475&q=60&w=1980 1980w)
Funds raised from an incredible raffle and auction will help our scientists forge ahead with a new heart attack drug derived from deadly spider venom and a promising treatment to prevent some heart defects in babies.
Our special thanks go to the Institute’s Dr Tom Meredith who reminded the crowd that cardiovascular disease affects us all by taking the lives of one in four Australians but that a better future was ahead.
Saturday’s sun-filled Soirée would not have been the same without the brilliant team at Icebergs who went above and beyond to look after all our wonderful guests and our stellar team of volunteers. The canapes and cocktails were utterly delicious and the Martini bar a huge hit.
The Institute’s Young Appeals Committee, including Jonathan Henry (Chair), James Camilleri, Daniela Elser and Marcus Chang is to be praised for securing the new location, all the amazing prizes and the very generous sponsors.
![Members of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Young Appeals Committee Members of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute Young Appeals Committee](https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=68&q=60&w=120 120w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=135&q=60&w=240 240w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=203&q=60&w=360 360w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=270&q=60&w=480 480w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=338&q=60&w=600 600w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=405&q=60&w=720 720w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=473&q=60&w=840 840w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=540&q=60&w=960 960w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=608&q=60&w=1080 1080w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=675&q=60&w=1200 1200w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=743&q=60&w=1320 1320w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=810&q=60&w=1440 1440w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=878&q=60&w=1560 1560w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=945&q=60&w=1680 1680w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=1013&q=60&w=1800 1800w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=1080&q=60&w=1920 1920w, https://victorchang-cdn.imgix.net/assets/src/uploads/Soiree-by-the-Sea-2023-young-appeals-commitee-yac_WEB-1280px.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.4884&fp-y=0.3107&h=1114&q=60&w=1980 1980w)
We also want to have a big shout to DJ Alice Quiddington who manned the decks all afternoon long and got the party started, and to Dane Wheeler who hosted the auction and raffle.
A big thank you to everyone who sponsored the event and donated so many wonderful prizes:
MediSpa by Matty and Kristin Fisher Eyebrows - AUTOREMODA - Candi Beach Resort, Bali - Sydney Sea Planes and Catalina - Four Seasons Bangkok - Moss Manor - Michael Lo Sordo - Camilla - Sydney Restaurant Group - East Side Bar & Grill + Kensington St - Susan Avery Flowers - Venroy - Diageo - Veuve Clicquot
Acknowledgement of Country
The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.