And then, in a gesture that demonstrated yet again the generosity of the Macleay Valley community, the Macleay Valley Coast Diabetes Group donated $10,000 to fellow juvenile diabetes support group, the Danii Foundation.

The party is staged by the Macleay Valley Coast Diabetes Group (MVCDG) and raises funds for the treatment of juvenile type 1 diabetes through education and the supply of insulin pumps to young sufferers.

The party and the MVCDG has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since its inception.

Special guest on the night was Australian actor Justin Melvey who is an ambassador for the Danii Foundation.

The foundation was started by Donna and Brian Meads-Barlow as a legacy to their daughter Danii who died from complications of her type 1 diabetes aged 17.

Mr Melvey also lost his brother to the disease and is very aware of the need for groups like the MVCDG and the Danii Foundation and the work they do.

“I know from personal experience how type 1 diabetes affects not just the young people with the diseases but their families as well,” Mr Melvey said.

“When the Danii Foundation reached out to me to be an ambassador I was very pleased to help in anyway I could.”

Mr Melvey said he was struck by the warmth of the welcome he received in Kempsey.

“I was late because of flight delays and things and when we arrived at the RSL Club Scott Welsh took me up in the lift and when the doors opened, it was like I was at a big birthday party.

“In the end I think I was one of the last to leave, I had a great time and we raised a lot of money.”

Mr Melvey is also an Australia Day ambassador and he said he would try to return to Kempsey in January.

“I had a chat to the mayor during the evening and I mentioned that I was an Australia Day ambassador and that I would put my hand up to come back.

“It is up to the Australia Day ambassador committee to decide where you go but I would be thrilled to be the Macleay Valley Australia Day ambassador.”