IWFS / “LIFELINE” CHARITY BRUNCH

While it was already the 15^th time that this yearly event was staged, this year marked the first time that this most popular event was celebrated under the auspices of the newly formed Western Australia Chapter of the International Wine and Food Society. And true to its history, it had grown bigger and more elaborate year after year.

As such, on Sunday, March 18 2012, the more than 200 members, friends and guests who had assembled at the garden of Vince and Anne Garreffa’s residence included business leaders, radio and TV personalities, Perth socialites and, as a special honour, Western Australia’s Governor, H. E Malcolm McCusker, who not only graced us with his attendance for the second year, but also very generously had accepted that Ulrich Kunzmann, President of the WA IWFS welcome him as an Honorary Member to our Chapter.

To start the feast, an unprecedented 15 of Perth’s most celebrated chefs had very generously donated their time to come and prepare for us some of their most successful recipes which included veal medallions on Manjimup truffle sauce, a whole spring lamb on the spit, a most tender suckling pig, veal kidneys with herbs, forest mushrooms with tarragon, Clam chowder, scallops on Noilly Prat and blood pudding with asparagus, just to name a few!

Having enjoyed all this, we were then reminded about the real reason for our attendance, when special guest Peter Bliss gave us a very emotional, courageous and honest account about his own battle with depression, which fortunately he managed to overcome, but which tragically, just recently, claimed the life of his sister Diane Bliss.

But then, well awoken by individually brewed coffees and refreshed by vitamin rich orange juice and French Champagne, we were ready for the “Main Event”, the eagerly awaited life auction which featured, among some 60 items, very special wines, a TV set, a large refrigerator, Restaurant Vouchers, guest chef appearances, tickets to theatre shows and even to a personal presentation by world renown TV Chef Heston Blumenthal. A very special item was the hilarious dance presentation by Vince and the ever so charming Mrs McCusker.  Bidding was fierce and very competitive and resulted, including the entrance fees, in an amazing total of well over A$200’000.00!!

As always, because of the very generous donations and sponsorships of so many individuals and companies, every single cent of this collection will be distributed; the majority to “Lifeline”, and smaller parts to the newly created “Mondo Community Warriors” and the WA IWFS’ own “Youth Development Fund”.

Ulrich Kunzmann; President, Western Australia Chapter – International Wine and Food Society