Bingo & Bubbles Brings Burdekin Together

Burdekin Water Festival Junior and Senior Ambassadors (back) Zylon Dallecort (Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre and CORES QLD), Blaize Palmer (Burdekin Motors), Ella Pirrone (Rotary Club of Ayr), (front) Olivia Pavone (Feed Me Food), Lillea Levitt (Burdekin Netball Association), Evie Totorica (Ayr Motorcycle Club), Amara Boccalatte (BT Farms), Edith Innes (East Ayr State School) and Jaxsyn Pearce (Ayr State School). Photo credit: Kari Ravizza

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Ayr’s community spirit was on full display on the evening of Friday 7th August as the Burdekin Junior Soccer Fields Hall came alive with laughter, friendly competition and a few celebratory bubbles in support of Rotary Club of Ayr’s Burdekin Water Festival Senior Ambassador Ella Pirrone.

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Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador Coordinator Kari Ravizza said the sold-out event was a wonderful reflection of the community support behind Ella, with local businesses also getting behind the fundraiser by donating prizes for the evening.

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“It was such a fun night, and Ella was overwhelmed with the support she received both from the community for attending and from local businesses supplying prizes for the lucky bingo winners!”

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Over 120 family, friends and community members gathered to attend the Bingo & Bubbles fundraiser, with a packed evening of bingo, raffles, food and drinks to celebrate Ella’s journey to date as a Senior Ambassador and raise over $3,000 to support the fantastic work of the Rotary Club of Ayr.

“I was so overwhelmed and grateful with how many people turned up on the night – it was so nice to see the community come together – and the thought that they were all there to support me felt really special,” said Ella.

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“Throughout my ambassador journey, Rotary Club of Ayr have always been there to help and support me. They are a very supportive community where nothing is ever too big or too small!”

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Rotary Club of Ayr President John McVeigh said the club could not be prouder of its 2026 Senior Ambassador entrant, with Ella making a real effort to remain connected with the club throughout her Ambassador journey.

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“The Rotary Club of Ayr has been incredibly proud to stand behind Ella as our Burdekin Water Festival Ambassador. She has represented our club with enthusiasm, maturity and genuine commitment, all while balancing her Ambassador duties with full-time study in primary education at JCU in Townsville,” John said.

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“Her hard work in organising the Bingo & Bubbles fundraiser was evident on the night, and to see the hall filled with family, friends, bingo players and community supporters was wonderful. It was a real credit to Ella, her extended family and everyone who helped bring the evening together.

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“As President, I felt very proud — not only of Ella, but of the way our club and the wider community came together to support her. For Ayr Rotary, it was deeply rewarding to see the community rally behind her, and we were delighted to be part of such a positive and successful event.”