The founders of the hugely successful Forbes Can Assist Dancing Stars have been named on the 2019 NSW Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.
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Terese Gunn and Cassandra Tyack have coordinated the night of fun and dance for four years, raising $200,000 for Can Assist Forbes to support local families having cancer treatment.
It was 2015 when the two ladies first rallied 20 locals willing to learn to dance for a cause.
Their identities under wraps until the big night, the anticipation grew and support exceeded all expectations.
An entire crew from choreographers and makeup artists to auctioneers and dance judges came on board.
Over the next couple of years tickets sold out in as little as 50 minutes and individuals, businesses and bidders dug deep to support auctions and raffles.
Terese and Cassandra both said the whole experience was a privilege and had made them proud to be part of this beautiful, generous community.
"We couldn't do it without everybody else," Terese said. "There are too many people to thank."
They appreciate everyone who made it happen and of course the attendees who dug deep even though Forbes has been hard hit by flood and drought in those years.
"It just kept surprising us every year," Cassandra said.
Cassandra also paid tribute to the long-time Forbes Can Assist volunteers and committee members.
"I think they're the hidden treasures," she said.
Can Assist's John Schrader is delighted Terese and Cassandra have been acknowledged.
"It's absolutely marvelous and very deserved," he said.
"A lot of people wouldn't know how much work and effort they put into it. It was 12 months work and immense pressure as it got closer."
The funds raised over the four years, he said, have put the organisation in a very solid position as they seek to support families having cancer treatment financially.
Not only that, it all culminated in an enormously enjoyable evening every year.
Hidden Treasures is an annual initiative of the Department of Primary Industries' Rural Women's Network recognising the outstanding contribution of volunteering women in NSW.