Tamworth's White Elephant Ball raises $51,551 for preventative mental health organisation 'Batyr'

Ticket sales, donations, raffles and auction items have combined to clock up $51,551 for the youth mental health prevention service 'Batyr'.

Co-chairs of the White Elephant Ball committee Katelyn Spokes and Breanna McFadyen said the money raised would go back into the community to help run workshops at schools.

"I'm really excited for it to be back in our community, because as a committee that's something we're really big on," Ms McFadyen said.

The workshops will focus on breaking the stigma around mental health and developing effective coping strategies.

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"If we're able to have one person or two people come out of there and say 'I'm struggling, here's what I'm going to do', I think that's really important," Ms McFadyen said.

Despite the ball being postponed for twice due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ms Spokes said the night ran seamlessly.

"Everyone's commented on the structure of the night and just how fun it was," Ms Spokes said.

But the co-chairs agreed things wouldn't have run so smoothly without the help of the community.

"I think it's really important to highlight that even under the circumstances it shows how great the Tamworth community is," Ms McFadyen said.

"Businesses, sponsors and people who just donated, given all the hard things that were going on, people were still willing to rally."

Next year the event will return to its roots as a spring ball, but Ms Spokes said the community could look forward to something in early 2023.

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