Friday, 23 August 2024
Sydney, NSW

The recent FLORENCE Luncheon, held on the 23rd of August 2024 at The Grounds of Eveleigh, was another resounding success. As always, the sense of community at this luncheon was exceptionally strong, fueled by the warm nature of those passionate about FLORENCE. Coupled with impressive, shared food platters, the event cultivated a feeling of togetherness and provided an environment for supportive networking.

Guest speaker Lisa Blair was the perfect fit for the day as she mingled with guests before captivating us all with the tales of her two sailing expeditions around Antarctica. In 2017, she set the record as the fastest woman to sail around the continent with one stop. Despite facing life-threatening challenges on the open ocean, Lisa returned to sail non-stop around Antarctica in 2022, setting another record by completing the journey in just 92 days as the fastest person ever. The stories of Lisa’s impressive feats and what it took to achieve them left attendees with their jaws dropped and audible gasps throughout the room.

Beyond her passion for sailing, Lisa has found a deeper purpose in making a positive impact on climate change. During one of her group voyages through some of the world’s most remote regions, she was shocked to encounter so much ocean plastic that members of the crew had to physically clear it away from the ship’s hull to continue sailing.

At the luncheon, Lisa invited everyone to write on a post-it note about their personal contribution to reducing the effects of climate change. These messages will cover her boat on her next voyage, symbolising a collective effort for a better future.

Lisa left us all with a thought-provoking question: What is your purpose and your passion, and how can you bring them together?

Thank you to all who attended this luncheon, and to our partners Master Builders Insurance Brokers and Excavation Equipment for your support in Constructing a New Perspective.