Toowoomba’s LifeFlight Clive Berghofer Visitor Experience and Education Centre is a step closer to becoming reality after LifeFlight’s annual gala last night.
More than $957,000 was raised towards the new visitor experience and education centre at the gala, which was held at The Goods Shed and attended by more than 700 guests including the Member for Toowoomba North Trevor Watts and poet Rupert McCall.
The centre is set to become a major tourism and community asset for the region, offering a behind-the-scenes look at LifeFlight’s work through interactive displays and real-life rescue stories.
It is named after LifeFlight supporter and philanthropist Clive Berghofer AM who announced a $1 million donation towards the centre at the LifeFlight Toowoomba gala in 2025.
The event, presented by Followmont Transport, comes as LifeFlight prepares to celebrate two decades operating in the Darling Downs later this year.
At an action-packed gala night, Bernadette from Ipswich came away as the lucky winner of the $50,000 Suzuki Jimny XL car package by LifeFlight Lotteries.
Guests were also treated to a sneak peek of A Beary Big Trail to launch later this year as a celebration of LifeFlight’s 20 years in the Darling Downs.
Gus and Cherie Romero won the Fleur de Lune 18k white gold pendant at the Hogans Family Jewellers Balloon Pop, which raised $45,000.
Gala guests heard an inspirational story from former patient Clive Weier.
Clive, a farmer hailing from Mondure in the South Burnett region, lost his hand in an auger accident last year and attended the gala with his wife Beth and adult daughters Amanda and Kaylene.
Clive’s neighbour Graham Terry and his son Leigh knew how to stop Clive from bleeding to death and are now advocates of the First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
At the gala, Clive donated $6000 from the Mondure community towards the new visitor experience and education centre.
Toowoomba was LifeFlight’s busiest regional base in 2025, airlifting close to 1,000 people, including stranded mountain climbers, injured motorists and people hurt in farming accidents.
Regional Advisory Committee Chair Emily O’Sullivan said she was taken aback by the strong support from the community for the new visitor experience and education centre.
“Events like these make you realise how many wonderful LifeFlight supporters are out there in the Darling Downs backing our crews to help people from around the region every day,” she said.
“It’s appropriate that we’re raising funds for the new visitor experience and education centre as we approach our 20th year because this facility will tell our story from the past two decades.
“This story is also the community’s story because we never would have made it this far without our supporters.”
Ms O’Sullivan said the centre would also be a place where people can gain lifesaving skills through the First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
“These workshops are a powerful tool for improving community resilience by giving people the practical skills needed to manage life-threatening events like car crashes, farming accidents, stroke and snake bites,” she said.
Ms O’Sullivan praised the work of the gala committee to bring the event to life.
“I want to also acknowledge the hard work by our gala committee over the course of the past year as well as the support of our fantastic partners and sponsors, and the people who dug deep tonight.
“It’s National Volunteer Week so it feels extra special to end on this note and pay tribute to our volunteers who have donated hundreds of hours to the gala and LifeFlight.”
One lucky punter came away with a $10,000 shopping spree at Harvey Norman Toowoomba after winning the major raffle.
Items auctioned included a cricket bat signed by Sir Donald Bradman, an original poem authored by Mr McCall about LifeFlight, and a private degustation at Bergen for six guests.
LifeFlight would like to thank the following supporters and sponsors:
Presenting Partner: Followmont Transport.
Entertainment Partner: iOR.
Platinum Sponsors: G&K Lawson Constructions, National Transport Insurance, Pickles Mining, Morpheus Energy Services, Shine Lawyers, E&E Waste, Watcon Building Group, Toowoomba Building & Renovation Centre, NAB, John Holland, Maktrans, and MPC Kinetic.
Major Prize Sponsors: Black Truck and AG, Barham Chiropractic, Hogans Family Jewellers, Harvey Norman, Imperial Bullion, Aeris J.
Gold Sponsor: Oakey Beef.
Silver Sponsors: WOTSO, Matilda Injury Lawyers.
Production Partner: CPC Productions.
Graphic Design Partner: Kingfisher.
Media Partners: The Toowoomba Chronicle, Bishop, SCA.
