Water helped Sam Bramham win five Paralympic swimming medals, but he says it gave him something even more important – independence and confidence.

Sam was the special guest speaker at our fourth Dinner & Art with Heart (DAWH) event held at Crown Melbourne on June 3. More than 200 people enjoyed an evening of entertainment and fundraising for the people we support.

Sam told the audience he began to see the challenges of having a prosthetic right leg at school, where he was unable to keep up with the other kids on the field.

But in the water he showed that he was just as fast, and even faster, than kids his age and older.

Sam is no stranger to breaking records in the water and this year he has helped VMCH break a record of our own.

We aimed to raise $40,000 for our warm-water pool at St Paul’s College in Kew, used daily by adults and children with a disability. The final total raised on the night was a record-breaking effort of just over $60,000.

VMCH Board Chairman Bill Scales kicked off the special night by telling the audience how important the warm-water pool is to the adults and children with a disability who use it.

He spoke about what an important place our specialist school, St Paul’s College, is for many families and how much joy and freedom the warm-water pool brings to so many students.

St Paul’s College parent Carla Veith-Carter was also a guest speaker and talked about what a difference the pool has made to the life of her son Orlando, who has autism.

Comedian Jean Kittson returned as our MC along with the engaging auctioneer for the night Michael Fry of Nelson Alexander Real Estate.

Michael did a wonderful job auctioning almost 30 pieces of very collectable artworks donated by our generous contributing artists. The art auction’s show-stealer, an etching by Archibald Prize winner John Olsen, fetched $5,500.

The wine-wall – stocked with wine donated by VMCH staff – was hugely popular, along with the silent auction and caricaturist Paul Harvey.

VMCH CEO Greg Pullen described the night as our “biggest and best yet” and thanked all the guests on the night, particularly event sponsors Russell Kennedy Lawyers, Reflex Technology Group and Cura Health Pharmacy.

“The supporters of Villa Maria Catholic Homes have yet again come together for this wonderful event that each year raises much-needed money for vulnerable people in our community,” he said.

“We look forward to sharing the progress of the Make a Splash campaign and hope to see everyone again next year.”

If you would like to donate to the Make a Splash appeal and help us reach our $400,000 target, click here.

Save the date!

If you are a golf enthusiast and interested in raising money for a great cause, please join our annual Charity Golf Day on Friday, October 14 at the Southern Golf Club in Keysborough.

All funds raised through player registration and corporate sponsorship will go towards our Make a Splash appeal.  To secure your place at this popular event, please call Narrelle Paige on 9926 2412 or email narrelle.paige@vmch.com.au.