Historic Queenscliff pier to become charity restaurant for children

Historic Queenscliff Pier will become a restaurant next Easter in an Australian-first charity event.
Charity Restaurant will cover the pier with marquees to serve thousands of patrons at separate lunch and dinner sittings in six days of fundraising beginning Good Friday.
The restaurant will run in conjunction with Queenscliff’s annual seafood feast, with diners to enjoy an emphasis on fresh local fish as well as other produce and wine from the region.
Each 300-head sitting will donate proceeds to a worthy cause, including hospitals in Geelong and Melbourne.
The Independent will host one of the dinners, with its donation set for children’s charity Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia.
The Independent has a special link to Starlight through sales representative Sebastian Williams whose 17-year-old sister, Cayley Phillips, suffers cystic fibrosis.
Mr Williams said Starlight had provided invaluable support to Cayley in her darkest hours as she struggled with her illness during regular stints in hospital.
“Sometimes she has to spend months in hospital but Starlight is always there,” Mr Williams said.
“They come in with activities and fun things not just for Cayley but for all the kids in hospital.”
Starlight fundraising and events manager Nicky Leppitsch said the Charity Restaurant would help the organisation extend its programs to the 600,000-plus children in Australian hospitals each year.
“The money raised from Charity Restaurant will help give more of these children the opportunity to access and benefit from Starlight’s innovative programs,” she said.
The Independent’s Charity Restaurant night for Starlight Children’s Foundation will be on April 7.
Tax-deductible tickets for the night or other Charity Restaurant sittings are available at www.charityrestaurant.com.au.