BENDIGO’S business and community leaders donned their finest for the Mayoral Glass Slipper Ball on Saturday night.
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The All Seasons Hotel was the perfect scene for what MC Jan Boynton called “Bendigo’s glittering night of nights”.
The night’s mood was set from the start with singing from Georgie Henshall, and dancing by youngsters Samuel Brown and Berkley Wood.
The highlight of the night was Bendigo’s version of Dancing with the Stars, where twelve couples took to the floor and performed everything from a cha cha to a waltz.
Sharon Marchingo said she was nervous heading into it because her husband, Haven chief executive officer Ken Marchingo, was “tone deaf and had no sense of rhythm”.
“He was absolutely terrified to get up in front of everyone,” she laughed.
The Capital’s manager David Lloyd was helped by his wife, Angela, who is a classical ballet teacher at Seven Turns Dance Collective .
“David has never done anything like this but I still let him lead,” she said.
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Lisa Ruffell said it was a wonderful night.
“It’s amazing to look around and see 350 people come out to support tonight,” she said.
“There are happy faces wherever you look.
"It’s the biggest buzz a mayor could ask for.”
Cr Ruffell said learning how to waltz with her husband Martin had given her a new appreciation for dancers.
Money raised from the night went into an endowment fund within the Community Foundation of Bendigo and Central Victoria called the Glass Slipper Fund.
The fund will be used to assist projects that support children and young people at risk or affected by mental health issues and homelessness or with limited access to education.
Community Foundation of Bendigo and Central Victoria chair Sue Clarke said the fund was “set up to promote hope and opportunity for people”.
“We want to help young people achieve their best," she said.
“We thank everyone for their support here tonight, and especially the Mayor for putting us on the map.”