Midwinter Ball: Pauline Hanson to give Canberra’s night of nights a miss

Heading into Wednesday night’s Midwinter Ball in the Great Hall of Parliament House, intrigue in political media circles has squarely focused on One Nation leader senator Pauline Hanson.

Some wondered if Hanson, riding a wave of popularity in the polls, would bring her billionaire backer, Gina Rinehart, for a debut outing at Canberra’s annual Met Gala for ugly people. Or what sort of political statement, sartorial or otherwise, the Queensland senator might have planned.

Well, word is those on tenterhooks over the prospect of a rare Hanson cameo may have to hold out hope for next year because the One Nation leader has decided to give the annual knees-up a miss this year.

The annual Midwinter Ball is hosted by the Parliamentary Press Gallery and is open to full-time pass holders of Parliament House, members of the press gallery, MPs, senators, staffers and hangers-on. Tickets cost $150 for members of the press gallery and $200 for politicians and their staff, same as last year.

One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce is set to make an appearance at the event, despite Hanson’s absence. (At least at time of writing.) But his boss isn’t the only politician with better things to do.

Among others planning to steer clear of the event this year are Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who turned up sporting a Labor red suit last year, along with her senior Labor colleagues Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Transport Minister Catherine King. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy won’t make it either.

Also set to give the ball a miss this year are Canberra couple Fiona Scott (the well-regarded chief of staff to independent senator David Pocock) and former industry minister Ed Husic, who went along last year. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party’s newly minted federal president, Tony Abbott, will also not be attending.

No doubt, though, there will be plenty of others gagging to take their places. Each year, the Midwinter Ball draws a swarm of influentials from across business and politics, along with a string of media executives and, sometimes, even a dash of celebrity. But let’s not forget the lobbyists. The event gives them and other inhabitants of Canberra’s greenrooms the best of any excuse to converge on one room, press the flesh, and do some networking – all in the name of charity.

All for a good cause

Staying on the subject of Canberra’s night of nights, the Midwinter Ball is the annual chance for people to dig deep and snap up an often rare silent auction item.

Bidding is already live on some of the items up for grabs this year, including a tennis session with Anthony Albanese at The Lodge – with “hospitality and generous refreshments assured” for four people, according to the prize package. As of mid-afternoon on Monday, the top bid to ace the PM was sitting at $5000.

Also on offer, the chance for six people to wine and dine with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and his deputy Jane Hume at Taylor’s southern NSW residence. Hume will apparently have her “Instagram-famous cocktails” waiting for guests as they arrive.

If fitness rather than hanging out with party leaders is more your go, then there is a “warm up and wind down” session for four people with independent senator David Pocock at Canberra’s Floating Saunas. The wood-fired sauna rooms are located on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin and according to the prize blurb, “If you’re a brave soul you can also take the plunge into Lake Burley Griffin to periodically cool off.” No, thanks.

Other items on the silent auction block include dinner with journos in the boardroom of the National Press Club, international business class airfares from Qantas and two tickets to this year’s AFL grand final. Go Cats.

Charged with keeping the Midwinter Ball on schedule is comedian Chris Ryan who has been handed the MC duties this year. CBD is getting in early with a suggestion for next year’s MC: the newly politically activated Hughesy (aka Dave Hughes) who has been going off like a top online with his views on government, tax, crime and the decaying of society. Entertaining the frocked-up political class on the night will be Harlan, which a cursory Google search suggests is the runner-up on the most recent season of Australian Idol, along with Smooth Ops, which appears to be an “award-winning wedding and corporate event band”. Let’s get this party started!

Game on: Xavier College’s new boss shapes up as a good sport

Melbourne’s elite Xavier College has a rich history of producing pretty handy AFL players from its student ranks, so it was a bit of a surprise to discover the new principal of the school was someone who excelled at the highest level in, of all things, the sport of rugby league.

In a note to the Xavier College community Kathleen Donnellon, chair of the Xavier board, welcomed the appointment of John Frare who will start as College principal in January.

But it was the line in the note detailing Frare’s career in the NRL which caught CBD’s attention.

Frare played 17 games for the Parramatta Eels over two seasons in 1994 and 1995 and played for Italy in one game of the Mediterranean Cup in 1999 and three games at the 2000 Emerging Nations World Cup.

Frare comes to Xavier from Assisi Catholic College in Upper Coomera, Queensland where he is executive principal.