Fun & Fundraising Dinner

August 06, 2025

After a 12-month hiatus, the 2025 annual Trinity College Foundation fundraising dinner and silent auction, Under the Stars, was an outstanding success on Friday night, raising $30,000.00 all of which will go directly to help the students of Trinity excel.

Held in the Panorama Room at the Adelaide Convention Centre, pre-dinner drinks were served as guests watched a video celebrating 30 years of Foundation achievements, while also taking their first look at the wide selection of silent auction items on offer. Once guests were seated College Captains Erin Doudle and Dalton Stedall commenced proceedings from the lectern. 

Chair of the Foundation, Karen McMahon then took to the stage to officially welcome everyone to the dinner, thanking event sponsors, before introducing guest speaker, Year 11 student Kelechi Ekwomadu, the 2025 recipient of the Foundation General Excellence Scholarship. Kelechi expressed his pride and gratitude that the scholarship has afforded him and the many opportunities that he has since been able to embrace at Trinity. He also spoke with passion about his love of learning, athletics and his future career aspirations. 

Head of College, Nick Hately then encouraged everyone to fully support the Foundation work, purchase raffle tickets and bid generously on auction items. He then introduced the Trinity College Jazz Vocal Ensemble who performed a medley of timeless classics to kick start the evening of fun and fundraising. 

Guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three course dinner and the opportunity to place a bid for one or more of the over 50 donated items. Silent auction items included a framed and autographed Adelaide Crows 2025 team guernsey, 18 holes of golf for four people plus two motorised carts, a family pass to Monarto Safari Park, a Hoyts Cinema LUX Gift Card and a Workplace Therapy Dog Wellbeing visit. 

Guests could also buy raffle tickets for $10.00 each with the choice of five great prizes; an Ultimate Karrawatta Wine experience day out, a Turkey Flat Rosé + Tomich Hill Pinot Noir Wine Pack, a Sportspower gift voucher, two nights’ accommodation and dinner at The Barn in Mount Gambier or a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne. 

While final winning bids were being calculated, our talented student singers and dancers returned to the stage for another musical set that was followed by guests joining the fun dancing to live music provided by the band Groove Brothers and Soul Sister.

Foundation Board members extend their thanks to all donors and volunteers who made the night such a success, particularly to the Trinity families who generously donated items towards hampers and baskets that generated over $1,000 in the silent auction.

Thanks are also extended to all student volunteers College Captains Erin Doudle and Dalton Stedall, Vice Captains Oliver Gibbens O'Hara and Brianna Jefferson and Prefects Lily Clezy and Giselle Rutayisire as well as all the talented student performers; the Jazz Vocal Ensemble and late night singers Bethany Atherton, Erin Doudle, Elisha Johnson, Zarli Knowles, Cooper Williams-Barry, Miah Forsyth, Eliana Girgolas, Charlotte Hately, Michael Herewane, Lilly McIntyre, Atlas Nottle, Chiara Puccini, Emma Shaw, Willow Shaw, Elyse Sumner, Ava White, Isaac Ludborzs, Josh Roberts, Alexi Samonte and Kaelin Marett-Guest and dancers Mia Belkin, Tayla Thomas, Aaliyah Ainsworth, Lilly Bolzon, Alyssa Nicolai, Alexis Guidotto and Maggie Rosenberg. 

The Foundation Board would also like to acknowledge the generous support of our corporate sponsors.

As well as Quisk for designing the auction catalogue free of charge.