Cooyar Hotel co-owner Karyn Williamson can again boast that she’s Queensland’s U.G.L.Y. bartender of the year – and it’s a title she can be pretty proud of!
Karyn’s tremendous efforts of raising $15,580 in the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland competition earned her first place, beating 176 other contenders across the state for the U.G.L.Y. (Understanding, Generous, Likeable, You) crown. Nineteen bartenders from the Darling Downs and South West Queensland region participated in the competition.
The second highest Queensland fundraiser this year was also from the Darling Downs region – Danni Lee from Mary’s Commercial Hotel in Dalby raised $11,511. Of the top 10 fundraisers in this year’s competition, six were from the Darling Downs and South West Queensland region.
1. Karyn Williamson $15,580 (Cooyar Hotel)
2. Danni Lee $11,511.25 (Mary’s Commercial Hotel, Dalby)
5. Madison Van Beuzekom $7,697.85 (Settlers Inn Hotel, Toowoomba)
7. Jenna Senior $7,421.95 (Irish Club Hotel, Toowoomba)
9. Brittani Washington $6,037.95 (The Royal Hotel, Goondiwindi)
10. Katie Hutchins $5,900.34 (Porters Plainland Hotel) (source: www.uglybartender.org.au)
Karyn, who lost her husband to leukaemia twenty years ago, thanked her small community for getting behind her once again to help deliver such an outstanding result for blood cancer patients.
“2012 is my third year participating in this competition and it’s always so much fun to be part of while raising funds for such a great cause,” Karyn said. “Together, my very small community of Cooyar has shown it has a big heart helping me to raise more than $45,000 in the three years I have participated in the competition to support patients in need.”
For raising the most money in Queensland this year (and for raising more than $15,000), Karyn wins a travel voucher valued at $2830, and a fully installed ice machine for her venue (valued at $7,500) thanks to major sponsor Hoshizaki Lancer.A list of Queensland’s top fundraising U.G.L.Y. bartenders can be found at www.uglybartender.org.au or by phoning 1800 002 244.
Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland CEO, Bill Petch, said Queensland’s hospitality industry had embraced U.G.L.Y. bartender of the year with enthusiasm and heart. “This year’s U.G.L.Y. competition has delivered some beautiful results raising more than $228,000 across Queensland at the official close of banking on September 3,” Mr Petch said. “We must also thank those in the community including local businesses who got behind their local bartenders to help them deliver such fantastic fundraising results.”
A list of Queensland’s top fundraising U.G.L.Y. bartenders can be found at www.uglybartender.org.au or by phoning 1800 002 244.
Submitted by: Leah Nicoll
Communications Officer
Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland
E: lnicoll@leukaemia.org.au
