Local OO7’s get “shaken and stirred” for charity

“Bond, James Bond” 

Ian Fleming said it was the plainest, dullest name he could think of for his famous movie spy. 

Yet there was nothing plain or dull about the recent Canberra Young Adults Catholic Ball where they came dressed in a ‘James Bond OO7’ theme for a night of “thrill, glamour and a licence to party!”

It was a chance for the Archdiocese’s young adult Catholics to dress up, have fun, and raise money for charity according to one of the ball’s organisers, Fiona Pelosi.

“It was aimed at bringing people together in a social setting, all about community building and forming connections,” Ms Pelosi said. 

Held at the Canberra Southern Cross Club on 4 November, the ball was a fundraiser for the national charity, Pregnancy Help Australia, and received support from sponsors, including the Australian Family Association.

It was the second time the ball has been held, attracting over twice the number of participants from its last occurrence in 2022 and included local clergy and seminarians.

The Canberra Young Adults Catholic Ball is a grassroots initiative of a group of young adult Catholics and, along with Fiona Pelosi, included committee members David Gereis, Chiara Catanzariti, Ruben Japp, Andre Le, and Anton Vassallo.

Ms Pelosi highlighted that one of the best parts of the ball was seeing the people dancing and enjoying themselves. “It was a night to remember,” she said. 

Unlike Bond who famously loved his martinis “shaken, not stirred”, it appears the Archdiocese’s local OO7’s prefer to do things a little differently.

When it comes to a good night out for charity, they were both “shaken” by the dancing on offer and “stirred” by the spirit of the night.