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Hundreds of police officers, community and business members joined together in Wollongong last week, for the Illawarra Police Charity Ball, with organisers confident of exceeding last year's fundraising efforts.
Since 1985, the Illawarra Police Charity Ball (IPCB) has raised more than $500,000 dollars for Illawarra and South Coast charities – with assistance from the local community and businesses – making it one of the longest running police charity balls in the state.
On Friday 4 July 2025, around 200 community members, police and business leaders gathered at The Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow.
The event featured heartfelt speeches and silent and live auctions to raise money for the McGrath Foundation Cancer Care Nurses, who provide expert clinical, psychosocial and emotional support to people diagnosed with cancer. A portion of the funds will also be donated to the NSW Police Legacy, which provides care and ongoing support to the families of police officers who have suffered a loss.
Last year, IPCB raised more than $18,000 with $14,5000 donated to the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) for its Youth Scholarship Program and $3600 donated to NSW Police Legacy.
Fundraising efforts are continuing to be counted, but the ball is expected to raise more than $20,000, with major sponsor Nikolovski Lawyers generously donating $10,000 towards the fundraising total.
The event was started by Wollongong Sergeant Bev Lawson who went on to become the first female Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police.
Speaking on the night, Illawarra Police Charity Ball Committee President Chief Superintendent John Klepczarek said in what would have been the 40th year of the event, had it not been for COVID, this year was significant in many other ways.
"The Frat (Fraternity Club) is where the first charity ball was held back in 1985. Also, the first charity Bev Lawson selected was the Bulli Cancer Carers…she was not happy that patients were having to travel from the Illawarra to Sydney… to have McGrath expanding their serves and have nurses in the Illawarra supplying care to all kinds of cancer, that link from the original 1985 to now is quite symbolic, " Chief Superintendent Klepczarek said,
" It's a sense of community, police like to connect to their community but it's also that tradition of what we have here it is something special and its everything about being a police officer, I enjoy the role we do, connecting with the community, giving back to the community and remembering what was set up by those who've gone before us."
Speaking on the night, Assistant Commissioner Southern Region Joe Cassar APM highlighted the importance of the event to connect with the local community.
"Most of people's interactions with police is as a result of reporting a crime or being victim or witness, so this is an event where it's outside those boundaries, it's an opportunity to come together to say 'g'day' to your local police officer, there is no rank in the room," Assistant Commissioner Cassar said.
"It's important that we come together, and we do what we can not only as the NSW Police Force but as a community group supporting our local charities… These nights don't come about by chance, it's a result from our local community and major sponsor Nikolovksi Lawyers who contributed $10,000 which is a significant amount and will go a long way to supporting the McGrath Foundation and NSW Police Legacy."
A behind the scenes tour of the POL Air headquarters and two-person helicopter flight over Sydney Harbour was the big drawcard for the live auction, generating a $1,800 donation. Other prizes included a ride in the Marine Area Command police boat and a signed Glenn McGrath bat, donated by the McGrath Foundation.
The Frocks and the NSW Police Band provided entertainment, with displays from the NSW Police Mounted Unit and Traffic and Highway Patrol.
