One of Australia's most loved country music stars, Troy Cassar-Daley, will take the stage at the annual Bond University Indigenous Gala on Friday, 11 November.
The Bond University Indigenous Gala has established itself as a major event on the Gold Coast social calendar, raising more than $1 million towards the education of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across Australia since it began in 2010.
More than 550 people are expected to attend this year's event, which will be held on campus at Bond University's Sports Hall.
Troy Cassar-Daley will share stories about growing up as an Indigenous Australian and his rise to the top of the country music charts, and perform some of his most famous songs.
Bond University Pro Vice-Chancellor, Pathways and Partnerships, Catherine O'Sullivan, said the event was a great opportunity to promote Indigenous culture, while raising money to ensure young Indigenous Australians could pursue their study and career aspirations.
"The Gala has evolved into a fabulous celebration of Indigenous culture, featuring high profile leaders and entertainers, as well as past and present students," she said.
"We are very excited to have a performer of the calibre of Troy Cassar-Daley take to the stage this year to share both his stories and his songs. He is a great entertainer and an excellent example of the success you can achieve if you aim high and pursue your dreams.
"Throughout the evening, past and present Indigenous students will share stories of their journey through Bond’s Indigenous scholarship program, their families and their aspirations for the future to demonstrate how the program changes lives.
"Our guests will also enjoy gourmet food, premium beverages, live music and a silent art auction, ensuring it’s a great night for a great cause."
Ms O'Sullivan said Bond University was committed to closing the gap between higher education enrolments and outcomes for Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous students.
"Here at Bond, we are on the right path with our retention and completion rates for Indigenous undergraduates the highest in Australia at 96 per cent, compared to the national average of 71 per cent,” she said.
"However we didn't get to this point without hard work and the support of the community and business leaders.
"Bond has seen a 79 per cent increase in Indigenous student numbers as a result of the $4.19 million investment into scholarships, support services and outreach programs for Indigenous students since 2012, and money raised through initiatives like the Gala are crucial to this.
"The University believes that all Australians deserve the opportunity to undertake higher education as a platform to transform their lives and to help them become leaders within their communities and to their peers.
Under the patronage of Dr Patrick Corrigan AM, the Bond University Indigenous Gala was introduced in 2010 as an art auction to raise funds for Indigenous student scholarships, grants and bursaries, and has grown exponentially each year.
The Bond University Indigenous Gala will be held at the Bond Sports Hall on Friday, 11 November with pre-dinner drinks commencing at 6:00pm.
Tickets are on sale for $220 or $2,200 for a table of 10 with event sponsorship available for $4,700.
For further information visit Indigenous Gala or contact the Pathways and Partnerships office on 07 5595 1430 or bondpartnerships@bond.edu.au.