The Sea Heritage Foundation is holding a Gala Fundraiser Black Tie event at the National Maritime Museum on Saturday 12th of February 2022 in the appropriately named "Lighthouse Gallery" to assist in raising funds for the restoration, maintenance and dry docking of the ship as she commences the next phase of her working life.

The MV Cape Don is owned by the Sea Heritage Foundation who operates the ship under the MV Cape Don Society, incorporating the Commonwealth Lighthouse Museum. As part of its role as a maritime museum, an exciting expansion is about to take place in providing the MV Cape Don as a training platform for Australia’s indigenous community members desiring to undertake maritime entry training courses onboard in a ship environment, breaking down the barriers restricting pathways to employment.

The ship will also be available for other maritime training, the defence force and emergency services providing access to a static training ship that can provide real-life experiences for a range of training requirements without the hazards of being underway in a protected harbor environment. This will take the MV Cape Don from a static museum to an active education base demonstrating Australia’s maritime history while being a useful part of its future.

We hope to raise funds with the help of Government, industry, and private enterprise to assist in getting her into Garden Island naval dry dock while also developing working partnerships with industry participants.

To cater to people who would like some flexibility in how they can attend the gala the board has created two events within the program.

1. Pre-dinner drinks 1730 - 1830

2. Gala dinner 1830 - 1000

If you are unable to attend the dinner we would love to see you at our pre-dinner drinks function from 1730.

We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you in February.

We are grateful to our guest speakers joining us for the evening:

Michelle Endacott

Chief Executive Officer The Princes Trust Australia

Prince’s Trust is a charity started by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

On leaving the Royal Navy in 1976, His Royal Highness used his £7,400 severance pay to fund 21 community initiatives encouraging young Britons to start businesses.

Up to today, Prince’s Trust has supported 1 million young people worldwide.

Michelle Endacott is the CEO of Prince’s Trust Australia, which helps young people into employment, inspires defence members and their families into self-employment, and creates sustainable communities.

Michelle joined Prince’s Trust Australia in August 2021. She has 30 years experience as a manager and editor in Australia, London and Nigeria.
For a decade, she was managing editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly, overseeing the profiling of world and Australian historic events, and co-ordinating campaigns on important issues such as drought, domestic violence and ovarian cancer.

Michelle launched The Farmer magazine, which supports primary producers, and was instrumental in a major campaign to increase vaccinations for the potentially deadly Q fever. She also moderated major farming conferences and debates. The Farmer won awards in Australia and UK for its innovative way of communicating with farmers and amplifying their message to the government, business and other stakeholders.

Most recently, she launched DARE magazine, which supports the interests and wellbeing of over 100,000 Australians aged over 50. As a volunteer, Michelle edited the Australian Women’s Health Diary, which raises extensive funds for breast cancer research, and delivers meals for Meals on Wheels.

VesselMan CCO Lene Olsen & General Manager Gary Yeow

VesselMan is a Norwegian provider of digital solutions to the maritime industry. Delivering digitisation of technical projects such as dry-docking, ship repairs, turnkey projects, including shore-based management of intelligent assets.

Our company offers a fast, easy-to-implement and cost-efficient option for the digitisation of your technical projects. The system is born in the cloud, designed for flexible configurations and use of best-practice templates.

VesselMan is developed in partnership with forward-thinking ship-owners in order to reduce cost, time and become more compliant. Our adaptive approach makes it easy to implement the solution. A web browser is all you need to supervise, monitor progress and get real-time status for your projects and your fleet.

Lene and Gary have been supporting the MV Cape Don dry-docking project over the past 12 months with their state of the art product helping the MV Cape Don now entering her 60th year with state of the art technology.

Commander Fleet Air Arm (COMFAA), Commodore David Frost RAN

Commodore David Frost is a Naval Aviator with over 30 years of service spanning tactical, operational and strategic arenas.

David has served as a bridge watchkeeping officer in Patrol Boats, Destroyer Escorts and Frigates and as an Aviation Warfare Officer, at 723 and 816 Squadrons. He also completed a two-year exchange posting with the RAAF P3 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft, receiving a Chief of Air Force Commendation for a search and rescue mission.

During his career, David has flown Seahawk helicopters serving extensively at sea and the MH-90R Maritime Combat helicopter. He has held a number of Command appointments including the Officer in Charge of Naval Flight Test, Commanding Officer of 725 Squadron and Deputy Director Maritime Helicopters with Navy Strategic Command.

In December 2021 David assumed Command of the Fleet Air Arm on promotion to Commodore.

Evening Program:

An event program will be available on arrival at the Lighthouse Gallery. Guests attending pre-dinner drinks are requested to arrive at 1725 for 1730 to 1830.
Guest speakers will arrive from 1800. The dinner program will commence from 1835.

Charity Auction Items:

For full details on our charity auction items please go to our webpage link.

https://seaheritagetrust.org/g...

Dress for the Event:

As a black-tie fundraiser starting after 1800 we would appreciate it if attendees could please adhere to the following:

Men - Formal suit with a bow tie, or collared shirt with a jacket, military members mess undress with miniature medals.

Ladies - Evening dress or formal dress to suit the weather, military members mess undress with miniature medals.

Officers a table will be provided for safe cap storage during the event.

COVID-19 Safe Event - Updated Friday 11 February 2022:

The National Maritime Museum is working with the Sea Heritage Foundation to ensure we deliver a COVID safe event. The Lighthouse Gallery setup will be in accordance with the Government's requirements with tables of no more than 8 or 9 guests. The following COVID safe plan will be in place:

All guests to register via museum QR code in Main Foyer on arrival from 1730

All guests to present proof of double vaccination or medical exemption to Venue Staff and Event Security
Guests that are unable to present proof of double vaccination will not be permitted onsite
If a guest does not have a phone, Foyer Security will have an iPad to manage QR code check-in
Hand sanitiser stations are located in the main museum foyer and all venue spaces
Social distancing floor markers will be in dedicated venue spaces
If guests are eating or drinking masks are not required. However, if you are walking around the event space we would appreciate masks being worn by guests

Event Parking & Wilson Harbourside Parking Station at a discounted rate:

Wilson Harbourside Parking Station, located at 100 Murray St, Pyrmont (beneath the Novotel Hotel)

The Maritime Museum can validate guest tickets for a reduced rate of $15.00

Guests must have their tickets validated at the museum for this rate to apply.

Sponsors of the Event:

Thank you to the below companies providing services in support of the Gala.

https://www.shippingaustralia....

https://www.snap.com.au/snap-c...

https://www.vesselman.com/abou...

https://www.southland.com.au/

https://www.linerdesigns.com/

https://www.legendsunderglassf...