The funds include event and dancer sponsorship, ticket sales, auctioned items, People’s Choice collection, raffle and DVD sales.

More than $18,000 was raised in the auction alone, where the Brendon Collits Memorial guernsey went for $3200 and the Magpies Premiership 2017 guernsey for $2000. 

Judges Laurel Hull, Tim Mackey, Taylah Hemming and Can Assist’s own John Schrader, critiqued the 10 performances. Magpie’s Captain Coach, Jake Grace, and his partner Cath Toole were crowned Dancing With The Stars winners, scoring perfect 10’s from all four judges with their James Bond themed tango.

Forbes High Principal, Charles Dwyer, and his partner Nicole Bernardi, took home People’s Choice, after collecting $1078 in 10 minutes from the generous audience, with just $70 separating them from second and third runners up.

The night opened with a high-energy Samba performance. The Brazilian dance captivated the audience with bright costumes, rhythmic style and large, feathery and embellished head pieces. 

Guest speaker, Danielle Mason, spoke of her cancer battle and journey with Can Assist Forbes.

Four personal ‘My Story’ and Can Assist ‘Our Story’ cards were placed on tables for guests to learn of the work Can Assist does.

Organisers, Terese Gunn and Cassandra Tyack, were thrilled with the success of the night.

“The dancer’s passion and enthusiasm is something we will never forget. 

“It was very emotional for us both. We can’t do something like that without community support. We live in a unique community and to raise what we did coming off the back of a flood, is simply phenomenal,” they said.

Terese and Cassandra are very grateful to David Fitzgerald and his team at the Forbes Service Club for all of their hard work prior to and on the night.

The kitchen staff, who worked tirelessly, are hugely thanked for producing fresh and delicious food for the night.

The Can Assist committee volunteers are warmly thanked for baking slices and biscuits for tables.