Carina Leagues Club’s Katherine Ward has taken out the Leukaemia Foundation’s 2018 U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year title in Queensland raising more than $35,000.

Ward said the entire group of staff had put in a huge effort to support the campaign in the venue in 2018. Fourteen staff members shaved their heads at the fundraiser’s grand finale recently.

The shave of five women and nine men was supported by a huge crowd of Carina Leagues Club supporters.

This year, a total of 369 Queensland bartenders took part in the 10th year of the U.G.L.Y. Bartender campaign raising a massive $517,783.

Leukaemia Foundation CEO Bill Petch said the generous bartenders and venues who took part in the iconic campaign have now helped pay for more than 150,000 nights of accommodation for people and their families from regional centres forced to relocate to capital cities for life-saving blood cancer treatment.

“The U.G.L.Y. Bartender campaign brings together communities across the nation through fun, inspiring community events which specifically help fundraise for our accommodation services” Petch said.

“This service is vital to supporting Australians living with blood cancer and allows us to provide home-away-from-home accommodation when it’s really needed most. 

“Removing the stress of accommodation during blood cancer treatment really means a lot to these families, and we thank Katherine Ward and all of the bartenders and venues that have participated in the campaign again this year.”

On average, each bartender participating raises just over $1,250 equating to two weeks accommodation.

“I have such an amazing team that has banded together to make this happen,” Ward said. The enthusiasm, energy and passion shown by all of our staff has been incredible and we would not have been able to achieve this result without their drive and support.

“The Leukaemia Foundation is a charity that is very close to our hearts and this has been a big driver behind our fundraising efforts. We are so grateful for the support we have had from our friends in the club industry and of course our members.”

This year’s prizes in each state include a $3,000 Flight Centre gift card, a Hoshizaki Ice Machine, or Lancer Beverage System products and services to the value of $7,500 and an U.G.L.Y. winner’s trophy.

Find out more and register at uglybartender.org.au.