Inside the Stephie’s Choice Live Your Best Life Gala Ball 2024
May 19, 2026
Stephie’s Choice LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Gala Ball 2024 united
The Stephie’s Choice LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Gala Ball 2022 marked a powerful and heartfelt beginning for what would become a signature annual charity event in Melbourne. Held on Saturday, 15 October 2022 at Springvale Town Hall, the evening brought together community, generosity, and purpose — all in support of children living with disability.
The Gala Ball took place at the Springvale Town Hall (Main Hall), located at 397–405 Springvale Road, Springvale VIC. Doors opened at 6:00pm, with entrée served from 6:45pm, and celebrations continuing through to 11:30pm.
As the inaugural event of its kind for the foundation, the evening set a strong tone — blending elegance, entertainment, and meaningful storytelling to support Stephie’s Choice Foundation’s mission.
Guests arrived in cocktail attire with sparkles, filling the ballroom with colour, warmth, and a shared sense of connection.
The Stephie’s Choice Foundation is an ACNC-registered Australian charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, founded by Gavin Clifford and Andrea Clifford in loving memory of their daughter, Stephanie-Ann Clifford — known to everyone who loved her as Stephie.
Stephie was diagnosed with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) — a rare, progressive neurodegenerative genetic condition affecting motor control and immune function that dramatically shortens life expectancy. Most children with A-T survive into their early teens. Stephie was a battler in every sense. Her will to live extended her predicted lifespan, and her extraordinary outlook on life shaped the very spirit of the foundation that now carries her name.
The foundation operates with two key objectives:
Its governing purpose — “Making a positive difference in people’s lives through living in the moment” is drawn directly from Stephie’s own philosophy. She once told her father:
“Dad, every day is a good day… Some are just better than others.”
And when others expressed sympathy for her situation, her response was equally disarming:
“Why do people feel sorry for me when I don’t feel sorry for myself?”
The Stephie’s Choice Foundation board comprises Shireen Pires, Lauretta Lee, Bob Lee, Andrea Clifford and Gavin Clifford.
The 2022 Gala Ball was opened with a heartfelt address from Gavin Clifford, Co-Founder and Chair of the Stephie’s Choice Foundation. Welcoming the room, Gavin grounded the evening in its purpose — honouring Stephie’s legacy and funding meaningful opportunities for those who, like Stephie, live life differently.
He reminded guests that the spirit of the evening was captured in its tagline: “Live Your Best Life” — a phrase inspired by Stephie’s own approach to each day. He spoke candidly about the lessons her life had taught the family, and the profound responsibility the foundation carries forward on her behalf.
One of the emotional highlights of the evening was a special video message from Sam Mitchell, AFL Premiership player, Brownlow Medallist, and Head Coach of Hawthorn Football Club.
As an Ambassador of Stephie’s Choice Foundation, Sam shared a heartfelt tribute to Stephie, reflecting on her strength and the importance of community support in continuing her legacy.
The 2022 Gala Ball featured a rich and varied entertainment program that drew on cultural performance, nostalgia, and high-energy music to keep the evening alive from start to finish.
The entertainment program opened with a striking Flamenco Oriental performance — dramatic, culturally rich, and visually arresting. This was followed by a high-energy Samba performance that brought colour, movement, and infectious joy to the stage. Both performances were entirely in keeping with the spirit of the evening.
The evening’s entertainment lineup included an Elvis Presley impersonation that became an instant crowd favourite. The performance delivered exactly what the room needed mid-evening — nostalgia, humour, great music, and the kind of energy that gets people on their feet. Guests sang along, danced, and thoroughly embraced the moment.
Next Gen led by Judy and Keryn delivered a standout live performance that filled the dance floor and set the tone for the rest of the evening. The band would go on to become a fixture at Stephie’s Choice Gala events in subsequent years, and their debut at the 2022 Ball set the benchmark for what a great Gala performance looks like.
The DJ’s set carried the celebration through to the 11:30 pm close, ensuring the dance floor stayed alive and the energy in the room remained high right to the final song.
The 2022 Silent Auction opened online on Saturday, 8 October 2022 — one full week before the gala giving supporters the opportunity to begin bidding from home. Bidding closed at 9:30 pm on the night of the event, creating an exciting live countdown for guests in the room.
Auction items included:
From start to finish, the 2022 Gala Ball was filled with memorable moments:
The 2022 Gala Ball was made possible by the generous support of sponsors and in-kind contributors, including:
In-kind food and beverage contributions were provided by:
Event production for the 2022 Gala Ball was led by Briony, Ravi, and Nikki from RnB Events, whose dedication to detail and precision helped ensure the evening ran seamlessly from start to finish.
The success of the 2022 LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Gala Ball was made possible by the generosity and dedication of many:
Most importantly, thank you to the community who continue to embrace Stephie’s legacy and help others live their best life.
Stephie’s Choice LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Gala Ball 2024 united
The LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Stephie’s Choice Gala Ball 2023 brought the community together
The Stephie’s Choice LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Gala Ball 2022
