Toowoomba rich lister Clive Berghofer AM stunned the crowd at the annual Toowoomba LifeFlight gala at The Goods Shed with an incredible $1 million donation to the helicopter rescue service.
And it’s not the first time the property magnate, who is estimated to be worth more than a cool $300 million, is a long-time supporter of the organisation.
Mr Berghofer has now donated more than $10 million to LifeFlight over the past 20 years and reportedly has donated more than $130 million to different causes to help the community.
His generosity led to him being named the 2024 Queensland Community Philanthropist of the Year.
Mr Berghofter’s latest donation represented almost half the of money raised at the annual Toowoomba LifeFlight gala.
More than $1.8 million raised will go towards the new LifeFlight Visitor Experience and Education Centre in Toowoomba.
LifeFlight chair Jim Elder announced the first ‘Pave the Way’ campaign where supporters could purchase a personalised engraved paver to be laid at the entrance.
More than 650 guests packed into The Goods Shed Toowoomba for a night of fine wine, dining, dancing, auctions and raffles.
Buderim resident Ursula Dodds won an 18ct ring named ‘the nightingale’ in honour of LifeFlight patient Zach Nightingale. It was valued at $15,201 in the Hogans Family Jewellers Balloon Pop, which raised $45,000.
Gala guests heard an inspirational story from Zach who said he had never heard of LifeFlight before they saved his life.
LifeFlight airlifted Zach as a 21-year-old seven years ago after a motorcycle accident.
Zach shared some of the highs and lows from his 100-day hospital recovery and multiple surgeries with the gala audience.
The event, presented by Followmont Transport, comes as LifeFlight prepares to celebrate two decades operating in the Darling Downs next year.
Toowoomba was LifeFlight’s busiest regional base in 2024, airlifting 905 people over the 12-month period including 42 following motor vehicle crashes and eight search and rescues.
Regional Advisory Committee Chair Emily O’Sullivan hailed the event as another successful community-powered soiree.
“Our supporter base in the Darling Downs is famous for their passionate backing of LifeFlight, because they know how important the service is to a resilient healthcare network, especially in country areas,” Ms O’Sullivan said.
“We believe the new LifeFlight Visitor Experience and Education Centre in Toowoomba will become an exciting space that will equip people with the knowledge and skills to help when the worst happens as well as educate the next generation.
“Nights like these are the result of a year of hard work by our gala committee, the support of our fantastic partners and sponsors, and of course the many generous locals who dig deep to ensure we have the best aeromedical service possible.”